1851 census . Occupation - culm beater

[aderyndu]

An ancestor of mine - Ann Brooks who was living in Combe Martin at the time is listed on the census as a culm beater.

I have found out that culm is an inferior type of coal, but wonder exactly what the job involved and for what purpose.

Was there much of a coal industry in North Devon at this time (1851)? And was this a popular occupation for a woman?

Any info appreciated!

Delyth

[behindthefrogs]

Culm can also refer to stems of plants of the grass family

He possibly flattened rushes to make rush matting.

I think it is unlikely that living in Devon he was beating coal dust or poor anthrocite.

David

[ricky1]

 
hi
if you go to MSN search and type in culm coal with a bit of luck it will come up with a site called coal bumps. It will tell you on there all about culmand its uses
rick

[aderyndu]

hi, thanx for the help, looked into both possibilities.  That area isnt one associated with coal mining and there are culm grasslands in north Devon.

Ended up ringing the records office in Barnstaple and they said the grasslands were nowhere near Combe Martin so unlikely to be that, but actually had no mention of a culm beater as an occupation.  They pointed out that culm (anthracite) was used in production of lime and there were lime quarries in that area. This is a good possibility as her son was employed in a lime quarry.  It was only the 2 of them in the household so maybe she worked there too....