Highs and Lows of Work - Sepia Saturday

Take a look at the Highs and Lows of Work with my   contribution to this month's Sepia Saturday prompt of "Work".  

Two Men at work in Rhymer's Mill, (tweeds) in Earlston in the Scottish Borders, early 1900s.

 

 

Rhymer's Mill  in its rural setting in  Earlston, closed down in 1969. 

 

 Steeplejacks working on  the mill chimney at Rhymer's Mill, Earlston.  You get a sense  of the height of the chimney from the picture above., 

John William Oldham, my cousin's ancestor,  sitting high on one of the carriages in the family business of Carters and Coalmen in Blackpool, Lancashire.  The adverts on the wall include one for Mcdougall's flour and for a performance of Mendelssohn's oratorio "Elijah" on the North Pier.  

 

 

Arthur Stuart Ingram Smith (1908-1979) was my cousin's father,  here  emerging from down under a manhole cover,  during his work as a linesman for the General Post Office in Blackpool, Lancashire. 

 

 

 Sitting down is my grandfather William Danson (1885-1962) of Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire.  He worked as a general labourer at the ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) Works  at nearby Thornton,.  Was there  a reason why he was given pride of place here?  

 

 Some 50 years  later, my brother, William's grandson,  was working in the oil industry.

 

 

Sheep shearers, hard at work in Earlston 

 

 

My great great grandfather, Robert Rawcliffe of Hambleton, Lancashire  was a Carter - an essential occupation in transporting farmers' goods around.    But it had its risks. 

One such report was on  the death on November 27, 1860 of Earlston grocer, Alexander McWilliam who was making his rounds, selling to customers and collecting produce from farmers, when he slipped and fell from his car.  He sustained head injuries and died at home.    He was just 36 years old and left two young children and a heavily pregnant wife. 

My own great, great grandsfather Henry Danson of Poulton le Fylde , Lancashire, described in a report as a "expert in horse flesh"  was ironically killed in a horse and cart accident in 1881. 

 

 

Tommy Roger, a coracle maker, born c. 1845, Ironbridge, Shropshire -

 

My father John Weston grew up in Broseley on the other side of the River Severn from Ironbridge, and this photograph was found in the collection of his older brother Fred Weston.

You might be wondering, what is that on his back?  It is a coracle - a small, lightweight boat with a loosely woven frame traditionally covered in animal hide, but in more recent times calico, canvas and coated with a substance such as bitumen.    When the famous Iron Bridge was opened in 1779, locals objected to paying the tolls, so they used their coracles to cross the river instead.

Tommy Roger  was well known as a poacher and the local newspaper reported  his appearance in court on poaching charges.   He also  helped to build the new police  cells and court room in Ironbridge in 1862 - only to be one of the first people to use them!

 

 Taking a break: 

My husband's father, a painter and sign-writer  having a lie down 

after a busy day's work.   

 

Taking a break, or perhaps learning his lines  - this costumed city guide in Vienna. Austria.

 

Down tools for these  Greek workmen,   taking a break  - my husband encountered this group  whilst on holiday in 1971 and when he took a photograph, they wanted some money!

 

With thanks to the Auld Earlston Group for the loan of the Earlston images. 

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Sepia Saturday gives an opportunity for genealogy bloggers   to share their family history and memories through photographs.

 

 Click HERE to see  other bloggers at work. 

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