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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: poppy16 on Sunday 11 July 10 21:25 BST (UK)

Title: Occupation deciphering please (COMPLETED with many thanks)
Post by: poppy16 on Sunday 11 July 10 21:25 BST (UK)
Hi, could anyone help me with these three occupations please?  I think I can make out part of each of them, but not sure!

The first one looks like    Brick................... Labourer?

second one looks like        Stable lad/hand at ..................................?

and the third one I think says    Toffee maker at............................?


Thanks very much.
Nicola
Title: Re: Occupation deciphering please
Post by: Maggie1895 on Sunday 11 July 10 21:34 BST (UK)
Hi Poppy -
do you know where this return was taken?   I ask because it looks like Brickcroft to me, and I'm wondering if that is perhaps the name of an Estate or similar, where one of them might be a Labourer and the other a Stable hand?

p.s. just googled - it's not a return for Lancashire, around Preston, is it?

Title: Re: Occupation deciphering please
Post by: Viktoria on Sunday 11 July 10 21:36 BST (UK)
Hi, it says Brickcroft- a croft or open space where the brickworks was  and where the clay was moulded  in wooden shapes by hand prior to being fired .
The stable lad was also at the brickworks.
It`s hard to see if says  Coffee or Toffee maker for the third ,and the last word I can`t make out at all. Sorry. Best of luck .Viktoria.w
Title: Re: Occupation deciphering please
Post by: Maggie1895 on Sunday 11 July 10 21:38 BST (UK)
Thanks Viktoria, I did wonder if brickcroft meant a brickworking but I think I got sidetracked by the 'at'
Poppy, ignore mine, Viktoria's interpretation is far better!
Title: Re: Occupation deciphering please
Post by: genjen on Sunday 11 July 10 21:38 BST (UK)
The last word looks like Chemist. But why would there be either a Toffee or Coffee Maker at a Chemist's?
 ???
Jen
Title: Re: Occupation deciphering please
Post by: Viktoria on Sunday 11 July 10 21:41 BST (UK)
Perhaps a Cough Toffee maker at a Chemist`s ( pharmacy) ::)Viktoria
Title: Re: Occupation deciphering please
Post by: poppy16 on Sunday 11 July 10 21:42 BST (UK)
Hi Maggie

Thanks for your reply.  Yes, it was Higher Broughton, Salford, 1911.  I am sure there was a clay works in the area at that time, so I am thinking it is something to do with bricks, but I just can't work out what it says.

The Stable Lad/Hand one - the last word looks like something to do with bricks to me, but I don't know how the two would go together???

Nicola
Title: Re: Occupation deciphering please
Post by: genjen on Sunday 11 July 10 21:45 BST (UK)
Perhaps a Cough Toffee maker at a Chemist`s ( pharmacy) ::)Viktoria

What a clever thought. I suppose cough sweets might well have been made on the premises. :)
Title: Re: Occupation deciphering please
Post by: poppy16 on Sunday 11 July 10 21:47 BST (UK)
Thanks Viktoria,  I guess they would've had horses and carts then to move the bricks around.   I agree, it must be toffee for coughs - brilliant, thank you very much everyone!!

Nicola