Sundays in Inspector Ryga's world in DEATH IN THE COVE

Death in the Cove 1950 set mystery by Pauline Rowson

Today Sunday is a day of leisure and fun unless you happen to be working in the retail, hospitality, food and catering industries or the emergency and health services. Generally though you can eat, drink and be merrily entertained and you can shop until you drop (or until the shops close unless you are shopping on line then you can carry on regardless). But in 1950 in Inspector Alun Ryga's world Sundays were very different.

Shopping time

Many shops, cafes and restaurants, including fish and chip shops, were closed. If they were permitted to open then it was only until ten o’clock in the morning, unless a special provision had been made by the local authority. Even if they were able to open for longer hours most shops were closed by mid-day.

Play time and church time

Depending on where you lived and your background children were not permitted to play outside on a Sunday and by outside I mean the street rather than a garden. Recreation grounds were closed and best Sunday clothes were donned for Church and Sunday school, which often meant morning and afternoon and sometimes even evening attendance.

Meal time

The main meal would be between mid-day and two p.m., a tradition that is still loosely in operation today for many. But with bacon and meat on the ration until 1951 in Inspector Ryga’s world in DEATH IN THE COVE set in September 1950 it would have been in limited supply unless obtained on the black market.

Drinking time

Licensing laws in the 1950s were very similar to those during and after the First World War. Opening hours for licensed premises were generally restricted to luncheon 12:00 to 14:40, and supper 18:30 to 22:30. But many pubs closed at 22.00 except in summer time when some might have extended their opening times to 22.30. Sunday closing was usually 14.00 and 22.00.

Religion, rest and relaxation

Sunday was a day of religion, rest and relaxation for many. Of family time, of gardening, tending the allotment, walking out with the family, wife/husband, lover, or perhaps a drive in the country for those able to afford a car.

This is just a flavour of the 1950s for Inspector Ryga in DEATH IN THE COVE. What were your Sundays like in the 1950s?