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Tartan toon |
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Desperate times - desperate measures
Houses being constructed
© Steve Purcell |
Men walked to Corby from as far away as Cornwall, the North East and even Scotland to secure employment. With no money, they slept wherever they could find shelter on their journey. One man walked south from Scotland along the east coast. He frequently spent the night on the seashore, where he covered himself with sand and stones for warmth. There was a daily parade of workers waiting for jobs at the Corby Works; those who did not get selected were principally employed in the construction of the plant.
The growing mass of incoming Scots labourers was largely accepted by the indigenous English, but as with the integration of any distinctive national groups, some divisions became obvious.
One Scots resident, Steve Purcell recalls: "I was told by a friend, who's sadly passed away now, that there was one natural divide between the Scots and the English in Corby. He told me of the Rockingham Road Bridge being a geographical separation, the new Scots housing had been built on the west side of the road, and the English already existed on the east. Back in the 30s, young workers, and those still looking for work, would hang around either side of the bridge, but he didn't remember any trouble being caused. However he did say, 'I was a wee lad and I nipped off home early'."
Train taking supplies into the steel works
© Steve Purcell |
There were more than 4,000 Scots in Corby by 1939, and after World War II, more Scots arrived. In 1950, Corby was designated a New Town boasting, a population of over 18,000. The growth continued into the 1980s, despite the closure of The Works by BSC (British Steel Corporation) and now over 62,000 Scots call Corby their home.
Your comments
1 Jeff from suffolk - 2 January 2004
"33 yrs ago, as an Englishman i lived and worked in corby,what a load of cobblers they say about the Scottish people bei-ing hostile towards the british,my wife and i were always made welcome in there homes, then the scottish were proud of corby, maybe it was because my wife and i never put on any air's and graces or felt superior to any-one.never once were we made to feel unwelcome.I think a lot of the proudness has gone since the decline of the steel works.which is a shame. any-body who was there 33yrs ago will know what i mean about the feeling of proudness,Corby then was a good place to be.It's possible it still is, but i think it has lost its swagger it once had.
"
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