Canteen day-book, Bracken Foundry — Night shift, 3 March 1911
Wicket counter kept by Mrs. K. Beadle. The printed TIME column at the head of the leaf is struck through; the column is ruled across in pencil and labelled KETTLE. We do not keep the wall clock here. The kettle says when.
First kettle. Bread cut and laid out cold for the night gang. Two pies set warm at the steam-vent. Tin of dripping turned. Beer cask tapped to the half. Furnace tea brewed strong; the press boys hate the strong.
Second kettle. Sandwich-bar set down. Mr. Vale's tin came in with his name written on the wax-cloth; took it up. Furnace boys at the steam-vent for hot-water snap. Fresh weak tea set beside the strong.
Third kettle. Press No. 4 boys still out. Mr. Vale came in for hot water in his own cup, coat buttoned wrong, said the tea would do for two and the pattern loft was cold. Took the cup up the back stair, not the wicket — left by the yard passage. I marked the time by the kettle, not the clock. The kettle was on its third draw.
Fourth kettle. Whistle on. Press boys came in for cocoa, hands black with graphite, asking after the furnace boy. Mr. Drow took a half pint at the counter and went out the rail side. No bread left at the counter; the night gang have eaten.
Fifth kettle. Cocoa drained, kettle wiped. The wall clock above the wicket shows ten past midnight. By my hand the night was four kettles long.
Pencil note at the foot, in another hand: Do not enter Mrs. Beadle's book for the inquest. The kitchen has no standing in the works. — R.
— K. B., 3rd March 1911.