carol -- some years ago I did a friend's family history and her ancestors had worked at Palmers Shipyard -- during a time when there were many ups and downs for the company.
I did a lot of reading up at that time, about the conditions in the Jarrow area and it really opened my eyes. I recall reading something about everything 'being black' - the buildings, the houses, the people.
I hadn't realised until then, just how much the people suffered and how they sometimes lived.
