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Clothes & shoes of yesteryear

I don`t remember ever hearing boys jumpers being called ganzys? as a child preWW 2, i first heard ganzy? used in the 1960`s by a Scots friend who said it was a Scottish name for a mans jumper. Len.
 
Reading a book on fishing folk of the East Coast of Scotland recently it is said that the name derives from 'Guernsey' (presumably where the style of garment originated and probably also without a zip) as mentioned above. It was said that fishermen who had drowned could be recognised by the patterns on their Ganzey. I have certainly heard the term used in Brum but really cannot recall when or by whom.

Click on this - A Google page with quite a bit of reading matter on the subject.
 
I was born and reared in Birmingham and never heard the word until married. My M.I.Law was from S.Ireland and she always referred to cardigans and sweater/pullovers as gansies.
 
I think you will find that most of us were born and raised in Brum Stitcher (I was a Loveday St baby)but in those far off days names of things may not have travelled as readily as they now do.
 
My dad always called his cardi a Gansey. even a nice jumper I knitted him , he called a gansey. Miriam.
 
Bernie D'Boult said:
Reading a book on fishing folk of the East Coast of Scotland recently it is said that the name derives from 'Guernsey' (presumably where the style of garment originated and probably also without a zip) as mentioned above. It was said that fishermen who had drowned could be recognised by the patterns on their Ganzey. I have certainly heard the term used in Brum but really cannot recall when or by whom.

Click on this - A Google page with quite a bit of reading matter on the subject.
Click to expand...


Hi Bernie,

I come originally from a fishing town on the Suffolk coast and the
fishermen's jerseys traditionally had a local pattern which would identify
where they were from. They were referred to as Ganzeys, but up
to now I never knew why! No zips or buttons on these though, they
were always navy pullovers. If you want a really warm and tough
pullover today, go for a military 'NATO' jersey, they don't get much
better.

Kind regards

Dave
 
My mom used to say put your ganzie on its cold to day
 
JohnO said:
A 'gansey' is sweater made from wool still containing its natural oils; and knitted on four needles.....a 'fishermans' gansey' etc.
Click to expand...

Absolutely right - derives from "Guernsey" in the Channel Islands, in exactly the same way that a "jersey" (ie a long-sleeved wollen pullover) does from the island of Jersey.
Graham
 
Dave89 - I once had an ex Naval Cadet or similar, Pully [that I had to unpick the name off] it was not that heavy but so warm. I was quite sorry top see it go.
 
gansey/sweater

i am just reading a book about life in hockley in early 1900s. i hadnt heard of gansey being a brummie word
ann
 
Re: gansey/sweater

Iit predates the very existance of Birmingham and is a fishermans word for a jersey
 
Re: gansey/sweater

One of the recent Portillo train programs included a visit to someone who still knits them (though she pronounced it "Guernsey")in Yorkshire. Apparently the design had a meaning and varied area to area, and a true one always included the owners initials, so that , if he was drowned at sea, he could be identified by it. apparently there is a shop at flamborough Head where you can order one of your own, but it takes months before you get it
Mike
 
Re: gansey/sweater

thank you i'm a brummie and i remember them as jersey,sweater ,pullover, jumper
ann
 
Re: gansey/sweater

thank you i'm a brummie.
i remember them as jersey,sweater, pullover, jumpers
ann
 
Re: gansey/sweater

Well if there's a 'Jersey', I'm not surprised there's a 'Guernsey' although spelt differently. Wonder if there's a 'Sark' as well...
 
Re: gansey/sweater

"Where's me gansey",I still say it don't everyone ?.:rolleyes:
We have had this one before,it must be in there somewhere.If I remember right the word is still used in the North East,as well as Brum.
 
Re: gansey/sweater

A friend who was born in Scotland told me "gansey" is a common word for a sweater, jumper etc in Scotland. Len.
 
My Mother-in-Law god rest her soul was from Southern Ireland and Ganzi was one of her words.
I have just noticed thaat I have repeated myself on this one.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
My husband, an orphan, was issued with boots, socks, etc and also a 'gansey' which was brown, woollen, had long sleeves, a collar and three or four buttons at the neck. This was back in the 1930's and he still refers to his jumpers as 'ganseys'. Anthea.
 
I was raised in 1950's Small Heath and my grandparents always refered to our jumpers as"Ganseys".I have not heard the word in years though.
 
As a lad I was in Sea Cadets (TS Sutton Coldfield), our winter uniform included a "Gansey" which was worn next to the skin, under our uniform, and it itched like you would never believe but alright after about half an hour, In my photo you can clearly se the "gansey" below my neck

Goffy
 
Hell, I wouldn't want to wear mine next to my skin! It was knitted from naturally-oiled wool, on four needles and has no seams as such. I've worn it for the last twenty six years and it's still in perfect condition....albeit a tad tighter....well, a lot tighter really! Unfortunately, it isn't the 'gansey' that has shrunk! :rolleyes:
 
Thank you Silvia, I suppose she was proud, especially after I'd wormed my way in to that itchy "gansey or Ganzi" I suppose you could say that I did it for Queen and Country. I used to suffer that twice a week during the winter, but our did our navy cope wearing the damn things every day ?

Goffy
 
Over the years we have seen many different types of fashion. Some looked good and some looked awful,indeed I probably wore some stupid fashion styles myself. But the latest craze of wearing low slung jeans and showing nearly all their boxer shorts is for me, the most weirdest I have seen. It's vile, I saw two lads today where their jeans was almost down to their knees. Everybody was looking and shaking their heads. I do wonder if I was young now, whether I would be following the fashion, somehow I doubt it. I must admit, I loved the teddy boy fashion:cooleyes: but I just missed the peak of it. It was beatle jackets for me:redface: and then flares. Nowadays it's trousers belted under the paunch:cry:

Terry
 
Terry

Did you never wear hipster jeans then? You couldn't wear boxers with those. It had to be commando style.

Phil
 
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