On this Day 1978: ‘Dolly tub’ clothes washing

OTD, December 4th 1978…

John Swallow reported on how Emily Hadley from Tipton preferred to use the old-fashioned dolly tub method of washing her clothes.

Emily talks to John while she does her laundry in the kitchen of her Summerhill house in Tipton. She mentions that she has always emulated her mother’s methods when it comes to cleaning her laundry.

Outside, she pounds her clothes with a dolly and sings, joined by her husband Len on the harmonica. The soundtrack features a Black Country poem about wash day. John Swallow interviews women at a local launderette about their opinions on traditional washing techniques.