On rent day I went home in tears

In the interwar years almost all the housing in Siddal was still privately rented. Jessie Jones remembered rent day:

“Our rent amounted to £1 10 shillings (£1.50) a month and we paid direct to the landlord, who lived in the middle of the terrace.

“His house was slightly posher than the rest, having its own back yard. His front room looked very posh to me – carpeted floor and huge polished sideboard.

“When we children took the rent (each in turn) he always gave us some tiny biscuits coated with coloured icing – a real treat for us. He used to shake them into my pinafore pocket from a large glass jar which stood on the sideboard.

“One week I had to take a note from my mother saying we hadn’t enough money and would pay next week. He read the note and made a few grunting noises.

“I stood waiting with my eyes fixed on the biscuit jar but all he said was: ‘That’s all; you can go now.’

“I ran home with an empty pocket and close to tears.”

your memories of life in days gone by. Send them to david.hanson@ jpress.co.uk or phone the Courier newsdesk on 01422 260248.