Theresa Purtell

BRIGID

Brigid arrived in London in 1960 aged 20. She was newly married and had come to London as there was no jobs in her hometown and wanted a better life. It was a huge step for them, moving from a small rural town in Ireland to the capital city of England.

She left behind family, her mum and 2 sisters and other relatives. Brigid had worked in boarding houses as a chamber maid, and help looked after the owners’ children from the age of 14.

Brigid & Peter lived in 1 room in a shared house in Dollis Hill, North London, after having difficulties trying to get something, as a lot of rental properties would have notices up saying No Blacks, No Irish & No Dogs! They both managed to get jobs in factories.

When they started a family, they were still living in one room sharing a kitchen & bathroom with other families. Peter would go out to work during the day 8am to 5pm and when he returned from work, Brigid would then go out to do an evening shift – this was their “childcare” arrangement as they had no close family – all still back in Ireland.

Eventually they managed to rent privately a basement flat in Kilburn which was a very Irish populated area, which they liked being with people from “back home”. They didn’t have a bathroom but did have their own outside toilet. In 1972 they were offered a council flat in Swiss Cottage which they jumped at – they were so happy to get it after being on a waiting list for many years as the basement flat was damp and the children kept getting chest & throat infections. Living in the new flat felt like heaven to them, their own bathroom, central heating, and a bedroom each for the children.  Such a change from Brigid’s young life, she was brought up on a farm in the middle of nowhere, no hot water or toilet. No local transport, having to walk nearly 3 miles to school and the village shop.

Brigid worked hard all her life, not afraid of a challenge. Whilst her children were young, she would do jobs that would let her be around to take and pick them up from school, working in local shops, house cleaner and doing “piece” work at home. Brigid continued working until she was 70 and always gave her best in any jobs she did.

She was very house-proud, they didn’t have much but what they did have she kept beautifully.

Brigid always wore an apron when she did her housework and she would have loved this tabard reminding her of all her hard work and journey she had been on since leaving Ireland.