SOUND ARCHIVE

Title: Living Linen Interview LL2_R01/26
Object Name: Sound Recording : Magnetic Tape, Reel
Maker: Agnew, Elizabeth (Miss) (Primary maker)
Agnew, Elizabeth (Miss) (interviewee)
Date Made: 27/03/2001
27/03/2001
Description: Sound Recording on Reel: Cogry Mill. Library Transcript: Transcript. Summary: Miss Agnew, known as Bet, was born and raised in Cogry village. At the age of 12 she started in Cogry mill as a half-timer, working and attending school on alternate days Although Bet's mother never married, her experience was not unusual. The school was run by the mill and it was common practice for girls to start work at 12. All of the villagers worked in the mill. Workers also came from Ballyclare, Doagh and surrounding areas. As there were no lights in the area, they came along in groups carrying oil lanterns. At the age of 14, Bet began working in the mill full-time. She was still living at home, in a mill house, and gave her earnings to her mother. Although times were hard Bet enjoyed her life and work immensely. Bet had to teach herself to spin because she was left handed. The machines were not adapted for left handed workers and Bet had to improvise. The spinning master and the other workers thought that she had threaded the flyers incorrectly but when the frame was powered up Bet had indeed managed to work out how to spin left handed and was given no further instruction. Cogry consisted of a number of small streets. The houses were generally well constructed and of a generous size. There was no light in the village and water was drawn from a central pump or the mill dam. The mill also owned a shop in the village where goods were purchased throughout the week, noted down in a book and paid for on Friday - payday. Dances were held in the cinema, which the McMeekin family provided for villagers. These dances often went on all Friday night and it was a struggle to make it in to work on Saturday morning! The village has since been demolished. Cogry was run by the McMeekin family who took a direct interest in the running of the mill and in village life. Mr Ivan McMeekin learned to spin alongside Bet and his children regularly played with Bet's youngsters in her house. Mr McMeekin operated a policy of employing the best workers irrespective of religion and was the only linen boss in the area who hired Catholics. Bet herself had 13 children and Mr McMeekin gave her, first a larger house, and then two mill houses, rent free, to live in. The working day began at 6:00 am. Bet was, however, up even earlier as she earned a few extra pence wakening the village folk in the morning. This was termed, `Knocking up ' Bet went around the houses with a ball of paper, which she threw against the windows until she was acknowledged. After her children were born Bet continued to work. She paid a neighbour woman to take care of her children while she was in the mill. She tried reeling but didn't like it. Bet was an extremely conscientious worker. In later years she was engaged at the mill sweeping the engine room. She remembers polishing the brass until it shone and scrubbing the steps up to the engine house itself. The engine was a thing of great beauty and many young workers came to Bet to ask if they could get into the engine room to see the steam engine running. She was only too happy to oblige. Cogry was a cold water mill and spinners like Bet all worked in their bare feet. The work was atmosphere pervading the works. Whole families were employed at Cogry. The Agnew's were no different. Just as Bet followed her mother into the mill. Bet simply asked the manager for jobs and they were started more or less immediately.
Catalogue Number: HOYFM.R2001.62
Notes: National Museums NI

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