What does screwing themselves up mean here?
In winter the natives of Blackstable
walked down the empty street with a hurried gait, screwing themselves up in order
to expose as little surface as possible to the bitterness of the east wind, but now they
dawdled; they stood about in groups in the space between the Duke of Kent and the
Bear and Key.

Question

What does screwing themselves up mean  here?
In winter the natives of Blackstable
walked down the empty street with a hurried gait, screwing themselves up in order
to expose as little surface as possible to the bitterness of the east wind, but now they
dawdled; they stood about in groups in the space between the Duke of Kent and the
Bear and Key.

Answer

Making themselves as small as possible.

Answer

Just to add that "screwing themselves" means something very different in modern speech.

Answer

Thank you very much!

Answer

Huddling up would be a synonym here. It means they fold their arms really close to their chest, tuck their chins and clench their hands in order to try and stay warm.

Answer

odd wording, possibly regional or archaic

synonyms - 
bunched themselves up ... to expose as little surface
huddled under their coats ... to expose as little surface