THE PLAITING SCHOOL
Plaiting straw was a common occupation for
many women and girls. During the 19th century there was a plaiting
school in a large upstairs room in the Thornton Arms. They did several patterns of straw plait with 3, 5 and 7
straws. They had to split the straws
and put them through what looked like a small mangle to flatten them. On Saturday evenings they took the plait to
Potton market where it was sold to a man who came from Luton who then had it
made into hats. They were paid a farthing
a yard (£0.00125) for 3 straw plait, a halfpenny for 5 straw plait, and three
farthings for 7 straw or fancy patterned plait. They then used to walk home with a joint of meat for Sunday
dinner which they had bought with the money. The rest of the week they ate
home-produced pork that had been preserved in brine as every housewife had a
pork pot in her kitchen. (Hilda
Brooker’s notes)