Chair Woman

[suttontrust]

Does anyone have any idea what a "Chair Woman" was in 1881 in Sussex?  Is it as prosaic as someone who makes chairs?  Incidentally, by 1901, when she was 62, this woman was described as a nurse.  30 years earlier her mother, then 77, was also described as a nurse.  Was this a catch-all term for a woman who might today be described as a home-help or carer?

[Welsh Jen]

A CHARWOMAN was a cleaning woman.

 

[suttontrust]

Yes, I thought of that, but I'd like it to be something more interesting. 

[Kazza]

I had one of those in my family too,  and in 1881.  I came to the conclusion it was a transcription error for char-woman.

Kazza.

[newbie]

I have several female "Chair Bottomers" from Census residing in Wiltshire.
Newbie

[JillJ]

I'm not familiar with the Sussex accent but maybe Char sounds like Chair?

Jill

[Kazza]

Suttontrust,

Have you made any progress here?  I think it is an extraordinary coincidence I have a chairwoman as well if it is a mistake.  Mine was in 1901,  not 1881 so it seems even stranger. 

Kazza.

[suttontrust]

I sort of accepted that it was a transcription error for charwoman.  Where was yours?

[Hackstaple]

As usual I will take a contrary view. I suspect that these chairwomen are to be found in seaside towns or resorts where there are hot springs. They were employed to push elderly and wealthy widows [and perhaps men as well?] in what was called a Bath Chair. That was a chair shaped like a bath but well upholstered. The occupant could steer it with a sort of rudder. I am not at all sure whether the name was related to the shape or whether it came from Bath itself or even because it could be pushed down a ramp into the hot springs? Self-propelled invalid chairs of the thirties to fifties were built in the same fashion.
I am sure this is all information you could do without