'Scotch Washing'

A carte-de-visite portrait of two Scottish women washing clothes. A printed caption recto in the lower margin reads: 'Scotch Washing.'

According to the extensive information printed on the reverse of the mount: 'This method of washing clothes is commonly to be seen by the side of the river. Young women with their dress tucked up treading upon linen by way of washing, and this not only in summer but in the hardest frosty weather when their legs are almost literally as red as blood with the cold and often two of these women tread in one tub supporting themselves by their arms thrown over each other shoulders.'

Photographed by Duncan Macara of Edinburgh.