Other Occupations

Extract from ‘The Rayner Family of Great Wakering” by Albert Rayner Bsc (Econ) FCA [page 80]

At the time of the 1871 and 1881 Censuses most other occupations were represented in the village.

There was one basket maker and seven boot and shoe makers. Of the latter one was Samuel Taylor, who was a member of the Methodist School Board and a local preacher.

The local stonemason was George Blatcher, aged 53. His business is still in existence but now conducted from Sutton Road in Southend on Sea. His wife, daughter of Thomas and Catherine Wiggins, was a dressmaker. There were four other dressmakers in the village and two tailors.

There was a watchmaker, Robert Cooper, aged 53 in 1871, and by 1881 his business had been taken over by his son, George, aged 31.

The village had its own transport, such as it was. William Bolding, aged 48, was the Fly proprietor; the family employed a girl servant aged 14. Even in those days there were accidents on the road; on dark nights there were occasional collisions between horse-drawn vehicles and passengers were sometimes thrown to the ground.

William Lindsey was both tinker and chimney sweep. In later years another Burgess was the sweep, charging 6d a time. He also covered Little Wakering, having to walk there, carrying his own equipment, together with soot on the return journey.

In 1881 there was an organ builder and also an insurance agent living in the village.

In 1851 the village included a potash manufacturer.