COMPLETE What is this Occupation

[Riddlebrick]

Hello

Below is what is shown on the 1901 census for Elijah Girdlestone Living at 5 Leyton Road South Wimbledon.  Can anyone decipher what it says? I initially thought it said Marry, now not so sure.


Thanks

Emma

[Gadget]

Hi

I see it as Navvy

Labourer on canals or railways, roads

http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/n-o.html



Gadget

[Erato]

navvy

Chiefly British, A laborer, especially one employed in construction or excavation projects.

[Riddlebrick]

Gadget/Erato

Thank you, I can now see it says Navvy.  He was a Ground Workman on his sons birth cert in 1896 so working on excavation projects sounds promising.

Thanks again

Emma

[mike175]

Navvies were the elite of labourers, expected to each shift 20 tons a day of earth and rocks, and fed appropriately on huge quantities of meat and beer . . . probably well in excess of 5,000 calories a day!

Mike.

[Riddlebrick]

huge quantities of meat and beer sounds good to me, that'll be why his heart eventually gave in.

[fizzybubble]

The bit that Mike has written - an example of that was shown recently on Time Team. If you go to the website you may find the reference.


Fizzy