Occupation " Currier " ? COMPLETED

[bigjon]

What was a Currier please. Was it anything to do with the leather trade ?

thanks bigjon

[Evie]

Hi bigjon

It was a person who cured or tanned hides.

Evie

[old rowley]

Morning Bigjohn,

According to "A dictionary of old trades, titles and occupations" by Colin Waters, a currier was a horse groom, however he also goes on to say that a currier was the same as a curryer who was someone who was employed in the leather trade as one who was a leather finisher who greased dry leather to make it flexible.

old rowley

[Redroger]

I have been told previously that a currier was an old name for a carrier, i.e. one who carried goods between villages, and who were still extanct in the early 20th century. What is the correct title for these people?

[Hibee]

These were carters, at least in Scotland.

Hibee

[Evie]

I would say they were carters in England too

Just need a Welsh and Irish definition now

[Redroger]

So my very mobile ancestors from Wiltshire were in the leather trade. This before 1600, why were they mobile?

[brushbroomstick]

My gr gr grandfather was a currier who stretched and finished tanned leather ( in Durham City ) which apparently was a very skilled occupation for which a 7 year apprenticeship was served. His mother was from a family named Child who set up a business in London making and supplying very fine leather gloves.

I was looking for the same information only yesterday and found The Worshipful Company of Curriers website
which has a lovely article about "The Art and Mysterie" of the currier by S Drummond which apparently was published in the Family Tree Magazine on 11 Sept 1995.


www.curriers.co.uk

Irene

[Redroger]

Useful link thanks Irene.