Below well and scullery and trough

Doing laundry used to be difficult work.

Families used to do two washes a year : one in spring and one in autumn. Most housewives helped each other because these washes often lasted 2 to 3 days . Depending on the quantity, the clothes were transported in wicker baskets, carrying baskets, wheelbarrows, dog carts or carts.

Housewives' equipment consisted of a kneeler (a rectangular wooden box open on one side) and a one-piece wooden board . A noisy commotion marked the washrooms as the women's chatter drowned out the palms of the percussion tables. The flax was then strewn over the hedgerows and meadows to dry and bleach .

The light in the bathroom , which only comes in through the windows, is usually not enough. The interplay of light and water partially comes to the rescue.

The sinks were used according to certain rules . At least one container had to be reserved for flushing . If only one bin was available, clothes would be soaked first and home soaked . If there were several basins, he would wash in the lower one and the upper one to prevent the soapy water from mixing with the washing water, which always had to be clean and clear.

Laundries, wells, and milk troughs were essential to life in the countryside for many generations . Today they are witnesses of the hard existence of our ancestors. They were helpful and always busy. They were the meeting place for the villagers who came to look for food. Due to technical progress and in particular the construction of water pipes, they became superfluous in a few years.

On the other hand, we are pleased to note that the wells still in operation are attracting the necessary interest. Lovers of folklore and traditions, as well as a growing interest on the part of most locals, ensure that these ancient structures are carefully preserved in many places. They contribute to the typical atmosphere of our rural villages.

Before it was possible to water cattle and horses in the stable or on the pasture , it was necessary to bring the herd to a watering place several times a day. This was hard and time-consuming work. In villages too far from a river or pond, animals had to quench their thirst from water troughs (fed by the nearest spring).

There are 2 types of rectangular troughs. One has a double toilet; the overflow of the first tank feeds the second. Presumably these containers also served as toilets . The other, older trash cans only have a sink. The round troughs typical of the Houille and lower Semois valleys have a reinforcing metal ring . A curved pipe usually supplied the water.

Some troughs have been turned into beautiful flower boxes . This is a good alternative, but we must not forget that some water points are still useful for farms and many hikers appreciate the coolness and tranquility.

Willem Vandenameele