I to find this subject fascinating. I was evaccuated to Barnsley ( South
Riding of Yorkshire) during the war and I can recall ladies doing their
window sills and door steps. I cannot recall that the first floors were
treated like this though.
>From a very distant memory, I seem to recall that the cills and possibly the
steps were constructed from a soft sandstone which either went dirty through
exposure to air, or, as was also the case, the air in mining towns was not
always pure. It was a weekly ritual, the purpose of which defeats me. ~In our
house it was then followed by black-leading the grate !
Hope it is of some use
Peter Rivett
Torquay
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