For 90 years there were washhouses in Edinburgh, and for nearly 80 of those years the washhouses were a public service. Despite a mass campaign, the last one closed in 1982.
The modern equivalent would be the launderette but even those can be difficult to find these days in my part of the world. I discovered this fascinating piece of Scottish history in ‘The People’s Story’ museum on Canongate in Edinburgh. I thought it rather appropriate to share these today, after all Mondays were once wash-day!
PS Two squares kinda counter the rectangle!
The life of B 
I noticed the ‘good blether’ too. Haven’t heard that expression in years. I wonder about the disappearance of launderettes. I suppose they must still do reasonably well in cities though. Here’s mine today: https://grahamsisland.com/2020/10/12/ohelo-ai/
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Such a great word isn’t it 😀
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Odd how some things have almost disappeared and what has replaced them. Not sure what my grandparents would make of the High Street these days!
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Not sure what I make of the High Street these days.
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Lol, that’s true!!
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We have here Laundromat, they are spread all around the city, but mostly by the University so the students can have their laundry done. I never thought it will an item to be displayed at a museum! https://teandpaper.ca/2020/10/12/thanksgiving/
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I know! A real sign of the times
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Your squares are fascinating (esp the embroidery…”a good blether”!!?). I am ever so grateful for modern appliances. 🙂
My square: https://oneletterup.com/2020/10/12/macro-monday-one-of-a-kind-moment/
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The embroidery is fabulous isn’t it, I must share the whole piece one of these days. Blether means a good natter 🙂
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I look forward to reading more about it! (um…a good natter?) 🙂
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Ooh sorry an informal conversation, a great chat
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Oh okay thanks 🙂 (learn something new every day!)
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😀
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Interesting indeed to look back at the bygone era… makes one feel lucky to have technology around and do things in a wink! Here’s mine – https://myheart2heart.blog/2020/10/12/two-of-a-kind-2/
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I know, so grateful for some technology 🙂
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What a neat find for kinda. Cool photos.
Here is my ten of a kind for the day.
https://ceenphotography.com/2020/10/12/october-12-kindasquare-ten-of-a-kind/
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Thank goodness for the archives!
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Raising four boys washing was every day. Thankful for the machine and the dryer . but…I do like fresh wash from the outside line.
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ahh you are so right about the fresh smell when it comes in off the line 🙂
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I can’t even tell you how exhausted I am just reading about twin tubs (or even thinking about top loaders) etc.
https://picturesimperfectblog.wordpress.com/2020/10/12/kind-of-pooped/
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I know, the way things have changed 🙂
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very interesting and quite a bit of history. we call them laundromats and are still operating mostly in the city. here is mine: https://lolawi.blog/2020/10/12/two-of-a-kind/
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ooh yes – laundromats. Forgotten that name for them.
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Many women must have mourned the loss of the washhouse because I imagine it was a great socialising event in addition to getting the laundry done.
I remember my mum having a washing machine with a ‘wringer’ on the top at the back, and I remember my gran washing the clothes in the sink with a washboard and bar of soap then helping her use the mangle. I’m not sure it was always on a Monday because she used a communal drying green so they probably had a specific day of the week that they had to use.
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ooh washboard – such hard work!
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Washboards must have been good for muscle tone. 🙂
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hmmm there’s a though – what i need at the moment!
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Hee hee. I think a lot of us might say the same. I blame it on my lockdown baking. 😉
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I blame MrB and his sourdough bread!
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Fabulous memories to have, amazing how fast some things have changed
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I sometimes what my Grandmother would think of the modern machines and tumble dryers that we have now.
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She’d probably like the washing machine!
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Definitely!
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Two and a half of a Kind for day 12 from me:
https://davidmsphotoblog.com/2020/10/12/two-and-a-half-of-a-kind/
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Intriguing – be there shortly . . .
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I still think of Monday as being wash day! 😂
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Yay – glad it’s not just me 🥰
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