“The sugar refinery got their sugar coming up on horses and carts up Lynedoch Street from the dock. Now the boys used to run and slit the bags and steal the sugar and it was raw sugar, it wasinae refined sugar and it’d all be running down. But you gotta remember this was during the war, you couldinae get sweeties or anything.”

Childhood

Working with the children in Whinhill Primary to uncover and learn about the heritage of Broomhill, it was key that we explored the lives of children throughout the history of Greenock.

The class wrote letters from the poorhouse, describing why and how they had ended up there either through ill health, death in the family or fire destroying their home. Details of the poor living conditions and gruelling work they had to undertake were also given.

Images were drawn of children’s factory workwear and school uniform, comparing conditions, experiences and the types of background that would lead a child into each. The class learnt about the differences in education for wee girls and boys in school, with girls learning domestic skills and boys being trained in hard labour or academic subjects. Today’s students definitely did not think this was fair!

Lastly, the class made prints inspired by playground games. See if you can spot any you were familiar with from beds (hop-scotch), kick-the-can or football if you had enough money to own one, and rope skipping.

Legendary Broomy Boy-come-Poet, Frank McEleney as a teenager

Kids playing football on Drumfrochar Road, 1948