Status upgrade

In one section of the paper 100 years ago, there was a report of primroses blooming in the grounds of Lecropt Church. An indication both “that spring was on its way and the mildness of the season”.

Elsewhere, however, the paper reported that an “exceptionally keen frost” had left Loch Lomond frozen for the first time in 22 years. Ice had formed on the lower reaches of the loch from Boturich Castle Estate to Cameron Estate, opposite. The Observer’s regular Women’s Chat column focussed on an unexpected impact of the war: it had the effect of raising the status of the private governess and teacher.

Up until the outbreak of the conflict, women who had no qualifications or aptitude for the work had taken jobs in the schoolroom or nursery simply as a means of “earning their bread”.

Now, however, they were flocking to the munitions factories and a “weak element” had been removed from the ranks of potential teachers.

As a result the prospect for able and competent women with a gift for teaching had much improved.

“There is a greater demand for the private governess than has been the case for years and the reasons are not so far to seek,” said Women’s Chat.

“Girls cannot now be sent to school abroad, fees and railway fares have risen, so has the cost of school outfits, whilst the almost famine prices of food lead many parents to doubt if their children will be as well fed at school as at home.”

The war had also led to a great demand for qualified women as tutors in boys’ schools. These tutorships were well paid.