nightwatchman

[vardatintalle]

My ex-army ancestor is described at different times and in different records as a nightwatchmwan sergeant and a fire brigade superintendent. Would anyone be able to tell me if this is likely to have been the same job? Thanks.

[Viktoria]

Well as a child I can remember nightwatchmen.They stayed all night by holes in the road in case anyone should fall in--- especially on the way home from the pub---. they had a little hut and a fire in a brazier bucket so they could brew up and cook bacon for butties. Of course they also made sure no tools or equipment were stolen.We used to stop and chat on the way home from the cinema.
There were  also nightwatchmen who patrolled factories and  so on, making sure there were no burglars and where applicable to check for fire.
In earlier days when even in cities like London many buildings were Tudor wooden edifices and sparks could fly up chimneys it was important that any fires were quickly quenched. Think of the fire of London. There were specially appointed people to check for fires. Some RootsChatter will know what their proper title was .I think there was a sort of insurance facility where payment was made to a company and a badge would be fixed to the outsideof the houses of those who had paid and they would be given preference over houses not displaying a badge when it came to the water pumps! You can still see the odd one  here and there on old buildings. Cheerio. Viktoria.

[t mo]

hello both
as you say viktoria re the nightwatchman those were the days no flashing lights then just a hut and the old coke brazier and usually an old boy who was either retired or near to it , and regards the fire ins companies back in the 18th c all ins co,s had there own plaques one of the most famous was the sun ins co who had a lead plaque with the sun symbol and the policy number stamped on it nailed to the outside of a property a lot of ins co,s had there own fire service crews as well .
sorry to repeat a lot of what you,ve posted viktoria just trying to elaborate a bit more on your post 
best wishes
trevor

[Viktoria]

That`s right Trevor.                                                                                                                                I have not watched Eastenders for a while but I seem to remember a Sun Insurance plaque on the wall of The Queen Vic. Inside by the Rt side of the door to the square .I know its a fictional pub but that would lend authenticity to the scenes etc.                                                                                  The Sun Insurance company were still going in about 1976 because they also did a pension scheme for the firm my husband worked for .
Thanks for the interesting extra details.  Viktoria.

[t mo]

just to add another piece on the ins data i just did a google search for 17th c sun ins and found a guildhall site www.history.ac.uk/gh/fire.htm it tells you about sun ins and another one called hand in hand  and royal exchange  it looks as if it will make good reading .
viktoria if i were you i wouldn,t go bandying it about that you watch eastenders people won,t take you seriously if word gets out  .
best wishes
trevor

[Viktoria]

Ooooer! it`s a good job I gave it up isn`t it? I never really liked it, it was so far fetched and all jumping in and out of beds etc. ( I am very old and old-fashioned ) There seemed to be a different code of ethics  and when Barbara Windsor joined I admit she acted well but some of it must have been second nature to her. I kept expecting the Krays and Danny the hat McVicars to appear  in leading roles!!!
So I am a reformed character and don`t watch anymore.                                                            Mastermind is on at the same time tonight so that will be interesting. I think it would be fairer if each contestant had the same number of questions on their chosen subject. Some take longer to ask than others and so some contestants  don`t have as good a chance  to get points.
Cheerio Trevor. Viktoria.