Just to add a wee snippet to the main info provided by heywood....
Although I cannot read the word that ends in "..man" and follows "staithe", I think Luke worked on the coal staiths above the dockside, tipping the coal into the hold of ships below.
This work was sometimes called "teeming"
On page 50 John S Thompson is " staithmaster", probably Luke's boss ?
On pages 50,51, there are several men who are " coal trimmers". Their job was to stand in the hold, awaiting the poring of the coal from the staithes above, then to "trim" the coal evenly , with their specially pointed shovels, into the 4 corners of the hold, to prevent the uneven coal tipping the ship over. Then to stand clear and await the next load and so on.
Well-paid work but dangerous. Needing good communition and co-ordination between teemers up above and trimmers down on the ship below.
I can imagine Luke's "trimmer" neighbours forever telling him..." divn't teem til wa well clear"
These men were usually employed by railways and/or harbour authorities.
Michael Dixon
