Occupations they had trouble classifying

[andrewalston]

I've just come across an 1851 census entry with an occupation that baffled the Civil Service's attempts at classification.

The original text says "Office cleaner".

These days that would hardly cause a stir, but the Victorian Home Office had never thought of it, and so Ann is classified as a "Labourer" in thick black ink.

Maybe the Home Office was a particularly dirty place, or its staff had to polish their own desks!

Has anyone else found unexpected reclassifications?

[aghadowey]

Perhaps 'office' means an outbuilding rather than the present meaning of office as a workplace.

5 (offices) British dated The parts of a house given over to household work or to storage.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/office

[stanmapstone]

If you look at the classifications of occupations for 1851 at http://www.rootschat.com/links/01fjw/  you will see there is no classification for "office cleaner" so she has been classified as Labourer (branch undefined)  Class XV  Sub-class 1

Stan

[ThrelfallYorky]

... so ... could they define a "Nightsoil labourer" ( and if you can't fathom out what that'll be, you're no Roots addict) as an Office cleaner - external sanitary offices, perhaps?

[stanmapstone]

In the  1881 Occupation Classifications, Order 23 Sub-order 1 was "Persons working and dealing in REFUSE MATTERS." This included;
Town Drainage Service.
Chimney Sweep, Soot Merchant.
Scavenger, Crossing Sweeper.
Rag Gatherer, Dealer

Stan