Holttum's Store

Delighted to catch our friends Cathy and Ewen hard at work smartening up their house.  They own one of the more significant buildings in the village, Holttums Store - Ewen restored the sign a few years ago.

In looking it up in my 'Linton in Pictures' book by Garth Collard and Norman Dann - I came across this snippet entitled 'A Shop Boy's Life' in the 1870's.

"Gilbert Mills came from Willingham and was 15 years old when he went to work as an apprentice for a three-year period at Holttum's shop in Linton.  The wages were 2/6d (12p) a year, but all his food and lodging costs were met.  He had nine months' training before he was allowed even to serve customers.  He wore a white coat and apron, worked from 7am until 7pm for five and a half days a week, lived in the attic area above the shop and had ten days unpaid holiday a year.  He stayed at the shop for 20 years."

What an amazing record of social history!