This is hardly the most inspiring of photos but there is a message in it.. It was photographed in the early 1960s on my 35mm Halina camera (which had formerly been GB’s) and the negative is numbered 36 suggesting it was only taken to finish off the film. The view is part of that which could be seen from my bedroom window in Renville Road, Liverpool.
The message is an environmental one. Unlike our neighbours Mum preferred to dry much of our washing over the bath but it was the normal practice in most households to dry the washing on the line – tumble driers and washing machines still being a thing of the future for those on an average income.
Just imagine how much energy would be saved if we all went back to those days! If you can’t be bothered to go the whole hog and hang out your washing (or if you live in accommodation where it isn’t possible) visit http://www.biggreenswitch.co.uk/around_the_home/dry-clothes for some tips on how best to use your drier. Or get a good old-fashioned hanger like the one shown on http://www.naturalcollection.com/natural-products/Overhead-Dryer.aspx (though I’m sure you could get one cheaper – or even make one yourself).
In the early days of my existence we had two washing lines and the washing was done on a Monday morning. As a matter of note I'm fairly sure that our coal was also delivered on a Monday - a point of some irritation given that one clothesline went infront of the coal shed. Actually the garden was so small that both lines were not far away from it!
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