Above photo: Lower end of Rhodes' Top Mill. (Glossop Heritage Trust Photo Archive)
Old occupations and definitions
With any census, available from a variety of online sources, you soon discover upon browsing its contents an occupation you have never heard of. A small percentage of occupations from the 1901 census may appear somewhat unusual-sounding. You may be curious as to what it was the job entailed, however, there are many occupations listed below that are no different today as they were then. But for those that are not immediately obvious, this definitions list, it is hoped, will provide a little guidance.
As you would image with Padfield's industrial past, the cotton mills were central to the employment of a large number of villagers. There was only one police constable living in Padfield in 1901 but, because of the presence of the cotton industry in the area, there were 219 cotton weavers. Additionally, there was only one blacksmith listed but there were 34 cotton spinners. The cotton industry may have been a major employer for the village but we should also take in account that there was a plethora of other trades and professions apparent. They all worked to pay their way just as we do today.
There were charwomen, newsagents, greengrocers, cloggers, joiners, farmers, stonemasons and laundresses. There was also a nurse, midwife, milliner (hatmaker), sand merchant, baker, auxiliary postman, butcher, iron moulder and life assurance agent to name but a few.
Looking through the 1901 census for the Padfield area you will notice that many of the cotton mill workers were in fact children. Compulsory schooling ended at the age of twelve. From thirteen many working class children had little choice but to start work, usually finding employment in the cotton mills, which is why some families were dependent on their children bringing in an extra wage to help supplement their overall income.
People came to Padfield from all over the British Isles, finding employment and a place they could call home. What life was like for them is something we cannot obtain from the census but we can get a glimpse of a family's social circle and wonder at what life might have been like living in Padfield's green, but industrial, backdrop.
A definition with a star means we have made a best guess as a suitable definition could be found. A definition that is self explanatory is defined as such.
As you would image with Padfield's industrial past, the cotton mills were central to the employment of a large number of villagers. There was only one police constable living in Padfield in 1901 but, because of the presence of the cotton industry in the area, there were 219 cotton weavers. Additionally, there was only one blacksmith listed but there were 34 cotton spinners. The cotton industry may have been a major employer for the village but we should also take in account that there was a plethora of other trades and professions apparent. They all worked to pay their way just as we do today.
There were charwomen, newsagents, greengrocers, cloggers, joiners, farmers, stonemasons and laundresses. There was also a nurse, midwife, milliner (hatmaker), sand merchant, baker, auxiliary postman, butcher, iron moulder and life assurance agent to name but a few.
Looking through the 1901 census for the Padfield area you will notice that many of the cotton mill workers were in fact children. Compulsory schooling ended at the age of twelve. From thirteen many working class children had little choice but to start work, usually finding employment in the cotton mills, which is why some families were dependent on their children bringing in an extra wage to help supplement their overall income.
People came to Padfield from all over the British Isles, finding employment and a place they could call home. What life was like for them is something we cannot obtain from the census but we can get a glimpse of a family's social circle and wonder at what life might have been like living in Padfield's green, but industrial, backdrop.
A definition with a star means we have made a best guess as a suitable definition could be found. A definition that is self explanatory is defined as such.
Source material
The following sources were used in compiling this definitions list. Particular thanks go to Settle Stories Ltd. for allowing use of the Jobs in the Cotton Factory definitions listing from the W.R. Mitchell Archive.
- Old Occupation Names. Hall Genealogy. Accessed 25 March, 2016.
- Dictionary of Old Occupations: A-Z Index. Family Researcher. Accessed 25 March, 2016.
- Obscure Old English Census Occupations. World Through the Lens. Accessed 25 March, 2016.
- Victorian Occupations. Census 1891. Accessed 25 March, 2016.