Adrian -
'Knockers' were self-employed, and would cold-call at houses to get 'clients', who would pay them a nominal sum, perhaps a penny a day in the later 19th century, to make sure they got up for work. I understand this was more common in coal mining areas, although I could be mistaken. I have never heard of this in metal mines of the west-country or elsewhere. Presumably only hard drinkers had trouble in the mornings, so maybe knockers were less common in communities where temperance was popular. I seem to recall reading about knockers on my 'phone pad of all places! I will have a rummage and see if I can locate the quote.
Robert Waterhouse
>
> From: Adrian Pearce <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Tue 04/Mar/2003 11:40 GMT
> To: [log in to unmask]
> 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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