Fingers to the Bone

Edited by Sharon Lee and John Stedman

The corset trade was one of the key industries in Portsmouth in the 20th century. Thousands of women, and hundreds of men earnt their living in local factories making corsets, knickers and bras. Based on the exhibition of the same title, this illustrated booklet tells in the words of those involved what it was like working in this important local industry - the skills, the camaraderie, the conditions - from the 1920s to the present day.

The booklet is based on an oral history project run jointly by Portsmouth Museums and Records Service, University of Portsmouth and Portsmouth Royal Dockyard Historical Trust and was supported by The Heritage Lottery Fund.