Knockers up at Boldon Colliery, County Durham, were normally men who
were regarded as no longer fit enough for pit work.
I am rather surprised that no-one has mentioned the archaeology (if that
is not too strong a word) of knocking up. I have seen many a colliery
house in County Durham with a small wooden board attached to the outer
wall near the front door on which the knocking up time could be chalked.
In one instance, Welsh slates were set within attractive cast-iron
frames for the same purpose.
Stafford
> Hi
>
> My mother has been recollecting her early life in Barnsley and
> mentioned that her father used to be woken up for work at Barnsley
> Main Colliery by a "knocker up" who came round tapping on his bedroom
> window with a long stick.
>
> Does anyone know if these knockers up were employed by the collieries
> or were they self-employed and paid by the people they woke?
>
> Adrian Pearce
> --
>
>
|