Author Topic: Stone breaker  (Read 10158 times)

Offline Cynfran

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Stone breaker
« on: Saturday 08 October 11 13:42 BST (UK) »
My then 75 year old great grandfather's occupation is described on his son's 1913 death certificate as a 'stone breaker'. Apart from the obvious literal meaning, does anyone please know what this would have entailed? He had been a crofter / fisherman for most of his life.
Cynfran
Bath
Liverpool
Antrim
Latheron
Merionethshire
Denbighshire

Offline MonicaL

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Re: Stone breaker
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 08 October 11 15:22 BST (UK) »
Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Cynfran

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Re: Stone breaker - COMPLETED
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 08 October 11 17:20 BST (UK) »
Thanks Monica
Not the easiest of occupations for a 75 year old, but no doubt he had worked hard all his life and still had another 14 years in him!
Regards
Cynfran
Bath
Liverpool
Antrim
Latheron
Merionethshire
Denbighshire

Offline Bruce_Norseman

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Re: Stone breaker
« Reply #3 on: Friday 28 September 12 18:40 BST (UK) »
A Caithness Keith relative of mine 4 generations back (from The Corr at Forse {pic attached} or upper Clyth) worked at a quarry smashing up rocks for metalling roads. The quarry was between Latheron and Halkirk, I heard this from my Great Aunt Georgina Keith many years ago so can't recall the quarry's name

He walked 10 miles to work and broke rocks into small pieces then walked 10 miles home. We have an easy life these days


Offline Skoosh

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Re: Stone breaker
« Reply #4 on: Friday 28 September 12 22:24 BST (UK) »
He might also have been involved in the production of Caithness flags. Castletown was a centre of production of these which were exported for paving etc'.

Skoosh

Offline Bruce_Norseman

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Re: Stone breaker
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 29 September 12 10:32 BST (UK) »
Yes, I am aware of the production of caithness slabs nearby and still at a quarry near Halkirk.

I rememember my Aunt being specific saying he was involved in breaking stones to make surfaces for road before tarmacadam use

Offline spittalhill

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Re: Stone breaker
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 30 September 12 19:59 BST (UK) »
The quarry would most likely have been at Spittal, which is still producing flagstones. The waste would have been crushed for road-making. I am interested in who the relative was, as members of my family worked there in the early 20thC.

Offline Bruce_Norseman

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Re: Stone breaker
« Reply #7 on: Monday 01 October 12 13:42 BST (UK) »
Yes that is possible but would spittal be too far to walk from 2 miles on the casamire (sp) road to Wick? the ancestor of mine walked there and back with hard work inbetween.

The family ancestor of mine would have been from the Keith family of thr Corr and would have worked there in the early 20th C too. I'll ask my mun later and see if I can get a first name.

Offline Bruce_Norseman

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Re: Stone breaker
« Reply #8 on: Monday 01 October 12 13:44 BST (UK) »
sorry, I meant 2 miles from Latheron on the road to wick on the now A9 road