Tailors - How did they live and work?

[Eilleen]

 How they worked.

[JK]

One of my Grt Grt Grandfathers was employed as a tailor at the huge St Pancras workhouse, I have long thought what a tireless and somewhat depressing job this must have been. I imagine his days would have been filled stitching uniforms and mending sheets and I don't think the surroundings were too beautiful, bet he felt happy to return home each night even if he lived in a humble dwelling. Would love to know what really went on within those great walls  .

[Bev Duckworth]

And yet more links ... As always, if it's not immediately obvious, search for 'tailor' once you get to the page.

http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/haynin/haynin1012.htm is about Scotland but looks interesting nevertheless.

http://www.movinghere.org.uk/galleries/histories/jewish/working_lives/working_lives.htm

A brief essay on Jews in 19C Britain ...http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/deronda/ei_judaism.html

American site but great reconstruction stuff here. Also, look at the multimedia link on the right hand side of this page and look
for the tailor slide show ....
Long URL to google.images

Another image link ...
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/history/core/pics/0253/img0057.jpg

Even in the 1920s and 30s theysat cross legged ...
long URL to redhill-reigate-history site

And even a Russian folk tale about a tailor ...
another long URL to google.images

Cheers
Bev


Moderator Comment: URL(s) modified, as they were 'stretching' the screen
See tips here, to avoid this:
Topic: Shrinking Very Long Website Links / Topic: Post too W--I--D--E!

[Bev Duckworth]

But ....

I've still not found out why they sat cross legged on the floor or table 

Any ideas ?

Bev

[yn9man]

I've tried that link again tonight and it seems to be working now.
It's going to be such a let down when you finally get in because all you see is the abstract.

 I've not heard back from the author yet. Will let you know when I do.

Bev

Finally got in to the "abstract" site this morning. Looking forward to visiting the additional links you posted earlier.

I have no idea as to why they sat cross legged.

yn9man

[PaulaToo]

Probably made a cradle for heavy garments....
It is a comfortable position to sit in when sewing ...personal experience...

[yn9man]

PaulaToo -

I never considered / thought about comfort but you do make an excellent point.

yn9man

[KathMc]

It can be pretty uncomfortable when you move though. Bending your back like that for a long period of time. Yikes.

Kath

[Elizabeth Revel]

Interesting that no one has mentioned "The Tailor of Gloucester" by Beatrix Potter, a children's Christmas story book.

On reading that book one might draw the conclusion that tailoring was not a lucrative occupation.

Beth