My Granny and the Mangle

My Granny and the Mangle

I always looked forward to Mondays when I could help my granny with washing the laundry. She was a very busy woman, as she ran a small guest house for up to 20 people, from Easter to October every year.

Wash day was very special as I got to spend time with her, on my own.

The Washhouse was out in the back yard. She’d get out the mangle which was used in the open air. She washed cotton sheets, pillowcases, serviettes, hand towels and tea towels.

She would put these items in the mangle and ask me to turn the handle to get as much water out of them as I could.

We would mangle particularly thick items together, her hands on mine. I loved this, as all the time we would be chatting about all sorts of things.

Conversation with granny at the mangle was what I enjoyed most.

Silu