Buzz
In earlier times, prior to the advent of electricity and large-scale industrialization, numerous tasks that now demand minimal or no human effort were once performed manually. This compilation highlights ten professions that have largely disappeared, each with its own peculiar and fascinating aspects. Feel free to share your own favorites in the comments.
10. Court Jester
The court jester is a well-known figure—a fool who could mock the king without facing execution, provided it elicited laughter. This role brought both admiration and dread. It’s a profession unlike any seen today. How many households today hire a personal comedian? Though the role faded for centuries, it resurfaced in 1999 when the Kingdom of Tonga appointed an official jester. In an ironic twist, the appointee also served as the government’s financial advisor and later became involved in a financial scandal. The American jester to Tonga, Jesse Bogdonoff, is shown in the image above.
9. Toshers and Mudlarks
Toshers were individuals who scavenged through sewers, particularly in Victorian-era London. These resourceful people bypassed intermediaries, and it was not uncommon in 19th-century Wapping to see entire families lifting manhole covers to descend into the sewers in search of valuable items. Due to their strong odor, toshers were often unwelcome among their neighbors. Similarly, mudlarks were those who scoured the Thames riverbanks at low tide, often wading through raw sewage and occasionally encountering dead bodies to uncover small treasures for sale. Interestingly, this activity has evolved into a popular pastime for some middle-class Londoners who now comb the riverbanks to collect litter.
8. Knocker-Up
A Knocker-up was a profession in England and Ireland that began during the Industrial Revolution and persisted for many years, especially when alarm clocks were neither affordable nor dependable. Their role was to wake people up so they could arrive at work punctually. Using a long, lightweight stick, often made of bamboo, they tapped on higher-floor windows. For this service, they earned a few pence weekly and would not leave until they were certain the client was awake. This raises the amusing question: who wakes the knocker-up?
7. Toad Doctor
Toad doctors were practitioners of a unique form of folk medicine, primarily active in western England until the late 19th century. They specialized in treating scrofula, known as “the King’s Evil,” a skin condition, and were also believed to remedy other illnesses, including those caused by witchcraft. Their treatment involved placing a live toad or its leg in a muslin bag, which was then hung around the patient’s neck. This peculiar practice required them to maintain a steady supply of toads, often involving the gruesome task of amputating toad legs for their remedies.
6. Dog Whipper
A dog whipper was a church official responsible for keeping disruptive dogs out of church premises during services. From the 16th to the 19th century in parts of Europe, it was common for dogs to follow their owners to church. If these animals caused disturbances, the dog whipper’s duty was to remove them, ensuring the service proceeded without interruption. Equipped with a whip or large wooden tongs, they efficiently managed the task. Records of payments to dog whippers can still be found in old parish account books across many English churches.
5. Resurrectionist
In Britain, body snatching was considered a misdemeanor, punishable only by a minor fine. This legal loophole fueled a thriving underground trade in stolen corpses, which were supplied to the rapidly growing medical schools across Europe. Body snatchers often dug at the head end of fresh graves using wooden spades to minimize noise. Upon reaching the coffin, they would break it open, tie a rope around the corpse, and extract it. They avoided stealing valuables like jewelry or clothing to evade felony charges. Between 1827 and 1828, Edinburgh resurrectionists like Burke and Hare shifted from grave-robbing to murder, as fresher corpses fetched higher prices. Their actions, along with those of the London Burkers, led to the Anatomy Act of 1832, which permitted the use of unclaimed bodies and those donated by families for anatomical study, effectively ending the body-snatching trade.
4. Fuller
Fulling is a crucial stage in woolen cloth production, involving the cleaning of fabric, especially wool, to remove oils, dirt, and impurities while thickening the material. Historically, fullers were often slaves. In ancient Rome, slaves performed fulling by standing ankle-deep in tubs filled with human urine and cloth. Urine, referred to as ‘wash,’ was vital for its ammonium salts, which helped clean and whiten the fabric. Due to its importance, urine was even taxed. By the medieval era, the introduction of fuller’s earth improved the process, eliminating the need for urine.
3. Gong Farmer
A gong farmer, or gongfermor, was the term used in Tudor England for individuals tasked with removing human waste from privies and cesspits, with 'gong' being another term for dung. These workers were restricted to nighttime hours and had to transport the collected waste, known as night soil, beyond the boundaries of towns or cities. As water closets became more common, the gong farming profession faded into obscurity. In medieval times, privies or latrines served as toilets, and gong farmers were responsible for emptying cesspits. They were only permitted to work between 9 pm and 5 am and were confined to specific living areas due to the hazardous nature of their work. Coroners’ records even document cases of gong farmers succumbing to asphyxiation from the toxic fumes. Undoubtedly, this was an undesirable occupation.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. Text is derived from Wikipedia.
2. Groom of the Stool
The Groom of the Stool was a male servant in the English royal household responsible for overseeing the monarch’s excretion process, including cleaning the king’s anus after defecation. During Henry VIII’s early reign, this role was granted to the king’s close companions, often noblemen’s sons or prominent gentry members, who spent time with him in the Privy Chamber. Over time, they took on additional administrative duties, acting as personal secretaries. This position was highly coveted, as it provided unparalleled access to the king’s attention. Despite its seemingly menial task, the Groom of the Stool held significant social status.
1. Whipping Boy
In the 1600s and 1700s, a whipping boy was a young boy assigned to a prince, bearing the punishment whenever the prince misbehaved or failed in his studies. This practice originated in the English court during the 15th and 16th centuries, rooted in the belief of the Divine Right of Kings, which held that only God could appoint a king, making it inappropriate for anyone but the king to discipline his son. With the king often absent, tutors struggled to enforce rules or academic progress. Whipping boys, typically of noble birth, were educated alongside the prince from an early age, fostering a deep emotional bond. This connection made the punishment more effective, as the prince, witnessing his friend suffer for his mistakes, was less likely to repeat them.
