Author Topic: What was a set maker?  (Read 1788 times)

Offline AlanBoyd

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What was a set maker?
« on: Tuesday 22 January 19 19:00 GMT (UK) »
I’m currently looking at the 1881 census for the village of Embleton in Northumberland and I see that several men are recorded as ‘set maker’.

What was a set maker?
Boyd, Dove, Blakey, Burdon

Online emeltom

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Re: What was a set maker?
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 22 January 19 19:08 GMT (UK) »
Someone who cuts quarried stones into rectangular blocks for making pavements (as opposed to cobblestones which are formed naturally). Often written as settmaker.

Emeltom
Smith Tiplady Boulton Branthwaite King Miller Woolfall Bretherton Archer and many more

Offline AlanBoyd

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Re: What was a set maker?
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 22 January 19 19:10 GMT (UK) »
Great, thanks, that makes sense. If it had been spelled sett I would have got it straightaway!
Boyd, Dove, Blakey, Burdon

Offline Viktoria

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Re: What was a set maker?
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 22 January 19 19:42 GMT (UK) »
Nice to see cobbles properly described,Coronation St is erroneously described as “The Cobbles “.
Only streets in very old parts of towns would be cobbled,after towns expanded streets were setted.
Most surviving surfaces will be setts.
However they are noisy,bone shaking if not properly maintained,and so asphalted over. Rather a shame I feel.
Can you imagine the racket when cart horses traversed them hauling carts
heavily laden,especially when those carts had wooden wheels with iron tyres
But the sound of clogs in the early mornings clattering over York stone pavements and crossing granite setted streets is something I hope never to forget.
It is part of my heritage.
There is a book title there ,”The sound of clogs in the early morning ——+?
Can’t remember.
Viktoria.






Offline AlanBoyd

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Re: What was a set maker?
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 22 January 19 19:48 GMT (UK) »
I don’t know about now, but when I lived in Edinburgh there were still a lot of streets with setts, including George Square where I worked.
Boyd, Dove, Blakey, Burdon

Offline Viktoria

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Re: What was a set maker?
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 22 January 19 20:08 GMT (UK) »
Many places ,with heritage in mind,have kept setts in special locations.
They are so hard wearing,but sadly there are very few paviors  left who know how to lay them so they are stable.
Only molten tar needed to keep them in place if they are properly bedded down.
Viktoria.

Offline Skoosh

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Re: What was a set maker?
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday 22 January 19 21:37 GMT (UK) »
The council are laying new granite setts in pedestrianised parts of Glasgow at the moment, the Barras in particular ;D

Skoosh.