The Pawnbrokers

I like to get behind the facts, figures and dates when looking at my family history.  Reading social history books has played an important part, most recently "She was aye workin'" by Helen Clark and Elizabeth Carnegie.  Through the oral history testimonies we learn about the lives of women who lived in Edinburgh and Glasgow tenements in the early 20th century.  

The women talk about the place of Pawnbrokers in their lives using them to raise a little cash in the week.  Before the Second World War pawnshops could be found all over Edinburgh.  The women spoke about the 'good suit' of the man of the house going into the Pawnbrokers on a Monday and then lifted out on a Friday for the weekend.