Hi Adrian
My Grandfather, a Londoner, used to tell us that the local (gas)
lamp-lighter made a few pennies extra by knocking-up while he turned out the
streel lamps, a service paid for by the sleeping residents. Likewise some of
my Wife's family's friends in Birmingham agree (including a retired
knocker-upper). I gather that this was the usual arrangement.
Regards,
Paul.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Adrian Pearce" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 11:40 AM
Subject: Knockers up
> 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
> --
>
> Visit the following sites for references to all kinds of mining subjects
>
> British Mining Database <http://www.ap.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bmd.htm>
>
> Shropshire Mines Trust <http://www.ap.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/smt.htm>
>
> Snailbeach Mine <http://www.ap.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/sbeach.htm>
>
> Tankerville Mine <http://www.ap.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/tanker.htm>
>
> Bersham Colliery <http://www.ap.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bct.htm>
>
>
>
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