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Some Special Interests => Occupation Interests => Topic started by: tornado on Friday 02 May 25 19:11 BST (UK)
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So my ancestor worked on stone walls in 1840 in fell side Kendal Westmoreland . Any info of the social history here would be appreciated . Thanks .
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How long did he live, with all that back-braking bending and lifting, and all that fresh air and beautiful views?
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Pervious (linked) thread:
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=891186.
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Depending on where you are, here's a good opportunity to find out more.....
https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/Event/walling-competition-2025
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The 1851 Census has 67 recorded with "Waller" as occupation in Westmorland. The breakdown is -
a. Registration District East Ward - 2
b. Registration District West Ward - 8
c. Registration District Kendal - 57 (includes 1 "Master Waller").
Similar picture in 1861 - 69 recorded with "Waller" as occupation in Westmorland, 63 in the Registration District of Kendal. The 63 includes 1 "Master Waller."
Your William is a "builder" in '41, "Waller" in '51 and "former Mason" in 61 in Kendal.
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In a region where the main building material was stone (still is?), perhaps 'waller' should be interpreted more broadly than dry stone-walling, especially if the man has also been recorded as a builder and a stone-mason.
This is just one example of many newspaper adverts for wallers in that place and period:
31 March 1855: Westmorland Gazette
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Agreed - mason, waller, builder, j(ourneynan) builder are quite flexible at this period. Just read a snippet of a waller, working on a house, pulling down part of a ceiling and discovering a dead baby.
The William Airey previously referred to as "builder, waller and former mason" was named as a "waller" in his funeral notice.
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All this information is great so thanks again . It really paints a picture of how William would have worked back then in ths rural place . I will contact the friends of the lake district to inquire about walling in the 1800s . They may have history here . William lived for 74 yrs , so he must have been fairly healthy despite the laborious jobs . Best wishes to you all .