HIGH
STREET _4239
This is High Street Ballymoney around
mid-morning as the sun's rays are only hitting one side of the street back
in 1956.
On the left standing still is a young boy with perhaps his brother beside
a ruined building where you can see the outline of the roof on the gable wall
of the house.
Across the road and just coming into the sunlight are three men and a lady
all with bikes.
HIGH
STREET & DIAMOND_4238
It's 1950 here in High Street and the
Diamond in Ballymoney and as you can see it's quite a busy place sadly no
more horse and carts.
Parked waiting on passengerson either side of the road are two UTA ( Ulster
Transport Authority) busses. Coming up the road is an Austin motor car while
the one facing the camera parked is a Ford car.
HIRING
FAIR _4241
Here we are at the Diamond with High Street
behind the people in Ballymoney, October 1900. The reason the people are here
is because they are looking for work, this is a Hiring Fair.
Prospective workers would gather in the street or market place, often sporting
some sort of badge or tool to denote their speciality. Shepherds held a crook
or a tuft of wool,
Cowmen brought wisps of straw, Dairymaids carried a milking stool or pail
and Housemaids held brooms or mops; this is why some hiring fairs were known
as mop fairs.
Employers would look them over and, if they were thought fit, hire them for
the coming six months or a year, handing over a shilling to seal the arrangement
This was the only money people would receive until the end of their six month
or a year's contract! This pratice would continue into the 1950's.
Take a look at the girl on the left her face full of hope of getting a job
and all her earthly possions wrapped up in a bag. At the other end you see
small children even they had a job.
Sadly some employers were known to try and get an excuse to sack the person
before the contract finished that way they did not have to pay them.
HIGH
STREET _4240
It looks like it has been raining here
in High Street Ballymoney at 12.20pm while it's 1958 and only two people on
the street. a father and a son pushing his bike.
They are just passing Thomas McElderry's Tractor and Motor garage, it too
like all the shops are closed perhaps it's a Sunday.
