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Does anyone recall all the mums being outside scrubbing their front door steps? On hands and knees they would have a little piece of sandstone (this was mentioned in the thread about 'Whetstone Lane') and they would diligently use the sandstone, a scrubbing brush and a wet soapy cloth to clean the steps with. It would appear to have been a major task, with their Mrs. Mop headscarves wrapped around their heads in the style of the 'land army girls'.They would have their little neighbourly chat whilst it dryed and then the children would run in and out of the house over it, all day long. Some things never changed! Not sure which day of the week it would have been, Monday washday, Tuesday ironing day, after that I have no idea.

Around about mid 1950's when going on a bus journey into the centre of Liverpool it is also possible to vaguely remember seeing women carrying bundles of washing on their heads. Presumably to the communal wash houses, there were also the communal baths in certain areas too.

They were/are 'donkey stones', still obtainable. Full history in Wikipedia.

Do you still get coalmen nowadays??

no coalman anymore ..back in them days the coal was high in sulfur it made the sky look grey and was not good for health ..so everyone was made to change to Anthracite coal .put the poor coalman out of business.

Thanks for that

I see a coalman every now and again, delivering coal to a house on storeton rd.What sort of coal he sells I do not know.

really, the last time i saw one was here last year on highfield crescent delivering to the big houses.

I even remember our Mum sending my two brothers and myself out into the road on coalman delivery day to pick up any lumps he dropped.

I remember the name of the coal merchants who delivered to our house,(l v jones)and playing hide and seek the coal bunker was always a good place..Problem you came out rather black.

I remember the coal man that lived in Highgreen Road called King, which I always thought amusing - King Coal.

:r:good one.
they are scary thugh with there faces all black and dirty