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Iris Mountbatten

Kensington Palace, 13 Jan 1920 – Wellesley Hospital, 1 Sep 1982

11 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 13 Jan 1920

    Born in Kensington Palace

  2. 1 Sep 1982

    Dies in Wellesley Hospital, aged 62

Family

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Parents

Partners

During her lifetime

She lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Kensington Palace.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1920s · Iris is born in Kensington Palace

In the news1919–1939

Council Housing Construction Began in 1919

Following the 1919 Housing Act, local authorities began building council houses to replace slums, with over 1 million built by 1939.

What people wore

Domestic servants' uniform requirements

Female domestic servants were required to purchase their own uniforms, which consisted of striped cotton dresses for morning chores and a black dress with a white cap and apron for afternoon duties.

Getting around

Short branch line train travel times

A local branch line train between Oxenholme and Windermere stopped at three intermediate stations over a 10-mile distance, with the journey taking 25 to 30 minutes.

The Great Depression. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 set off a world depression: banks failed, work vanished and coffee prices collapsed in Brazil.Around the world · 1929–1939

The Great Depression. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 set off a world depression: banks failed, work vanished and coffee prices collapsed in Brazil.

Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided · public domain

In the news1918–1928

Women Won the Right to Vote

In 1918, a limited number of women were allowed to vote, and by 1927 all women over 21 were granted the right to vote.

Music

Civic celebrations and improvised instruments

To celebrate victories, civic bands often led parades through city centers, although this tradition was more common in northern industrial regions than in others. Fans traveling to major events also used improvised instruments like mouth organs, tin whistles, and rattles to provide music.

Daily life

Water was often collected from outside taps

Many homes lacked running water, requiring families to collect it from an outside tap shared with neighbours and heat it on the stove for bathing.