Hi, Does anyone know of any laundries that were in Birkenhead around about 1911? The wife of a great uncle of mine worked in one before she married, I have her on the 1911 census as being carrier out at laundry, and a Mr Francis or Mr Travis (not sure which) laundryman. What would a carrier out be? Would she be delivering the laundry once it was done? Thanks for any help. Chris.
There were loads of laundries around at that time, often two in close proximity to each other, and a number of Chinese laundry's, too.
Perhaps this on is the one you are looking for -
Travis John, laundry proprietor, 1 Princes street
From the 1910 Kellys Directory.
Of course......Kelly's Directory......should of thought of looking there! I'll have a look in the library tomorrow see if I can find anything about it. Thanks for your help.
My guess would be the Falcon Laundry, corner of Vittoria Street and Cleveland Street. Used to have a big square based chimney, hence the Falcon Steam Laundry. Lots of locals worked there, it was a big place that used to do all the ships laundry requirements as well as the local populace. My other favourite was Ah Poy, the Chinese laundryman on Price Street.
Just noticed the earlier post, Mrs Hartley was the proprietor of the Falcon. Red haired woman, stocky with it but not in a flubber way if you know what I mean. Thre was a Mister Hartley but can't remember what he looked like.
There was a Chinese laundry in Bedford Road , Rock Ferry, next to Powell's grocers. I think there was another one on New Chester Road near the junction with St. Pauls Road. I'm not sure if either of these survived into the 70's
There used to be a laundry we called the 'bagwash' at the bottom of Ivy Street, just across from Perry's chandlers near Monk's Ferry. It was a big place full of steam, with huge vats of water and large mangles for ironing sheets.
