Project Description

From the feather man who went from town to town, cleaning bedding made of feathers, to the cat-meat men of London, to the rag and bone men, there was an eclectic group of people who made their living as pedlars, tinkers and hawkers. Travelling either on foot with a basket or barrow, or using a horse and cart or wagon, the pedlars, tinkers, hawkers and toy men of yesterday supplied their customers with diverse wares and services often not available otherwise locally. They set up shop at fairs and markets or simply wandered the streets, banging a drum or ringing a bell and calling out what they had for sale, pushing a barrow or handcart laden with their merchandise.

Published in Discover Your Ancestors Bookezine issue six in 2017