Perils of the washing lines

Because of the narrowness of the street, clothes lines were slung from the front of the houses across the street to the wall opposite. Woe betide any youngster who accidentally brushed against the washing as he ducked beneath it to get to or from his home. The old lady next door managed to set fire to her chimney, a common occurrence in those days, and the fire brigade was sent for. As the street was so narrow, it was impossible to get the fire engine into the street, so it was necessary to run hoses from a fire hydrant at the same time the children of the street were ar­riving home for dinner. The combination of sweating, struggling, swearing fire-men, kids yelling and generally skylarking, irate  housewives berating the firemen while they struggled to get their washing in, whilst a black ball of soot and smoke settled over all. It looked like something from Bedlam.
Victor Henry Cox - Back Street Brighton