Swanley History Group – October 2016 meeting
The Pied Piper of Hamelin was a creepy fellow who lured children away when the townsfolk refused to pay him for getting rid of the rats. David Cufley’s presentation on The Trade of The Rat Catchers was far from a fairy story. Indeed it took us to some unexpectedly grim and squalid places.
David is President of North West Kent Family History Society and knows a thing or two about family history research. Upon discovering ancestors from the 1800’s described as rat catchers or ratoners he began to delve deeper. This was often a family trade and we were shown a photograph of a Cufley with his wire rat cage wearing the traditional velveteen jacket, corduroy trousers and boots tightly laced so the rats could not run up the trouser leg.
Rather than being destroyed to prevent the spread of disease or the spoiling of grain, the captured rats were sold live for rat baiting, an ‘entertainment’ offered mainly in public houses. This blood sport became particularly popular after the 1835 Cruelty to Animals Act which prohibited the baiting of animals such as bulls and bears – as rats were not included. The rat pit was surrounded by viewing galleries. There were more rules than for boxing matches. Bets were placed on how many rats a specially bred dog could kill in a given time. A visitor at the time described going down into the stench of tobacco smoke, rats, dogs, blood, stale beer, dirty humans. We can only guess what the filling in the meat pies served was.
Catching rats with an assortment of traps and nets was a hazardous enterprise and many catchers died from infections. This occupation was included in the television series ‘The Worst Jobs In History’ presented by Tony Robinson. Jimmy Shaw, who had a famous rat pit at his Bermondsey pub, described rat catchers to Social Researcher Henry Mayhew as ‘Barn door labouring poor – the most ignorant people’. So what was the attraction of this trade? Answer – at that time an agricultural labourer earned between 7 and 12 shillings a week whereas a rat catcher could earn 15 shillings.
Our next meeting is on Tuesday 1 November 2016, 7.15 for 7.30 pm start, White Oak Indoor Bowls Centre, Garrolds Close, off Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, BR8 7BF.
For further information – www.swanleyhistorygroup.weebly.com, telephone Terry on 07884493894 Or Email [email protected]
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser
The Pied Piper of Hamelin was a creepy fellow who lured children away when the townsfolk refused to pay him for getting rid of the rats. David Cufley’s presentation on The Trade of The Rat Catchers was far from a fairy story. Indeed it took us to some unexpectedly grim and squalid places.
David is President of North West Kent Family History Society and knows a thing or two about family history research. Upon discovering ancestors from the 1800’s described as rat catchers or ratoners he began to delve deeper. This was often a family trade and we were shown a photograph of a Cufley with his wire rat cage wearing the traditional velveteen jacket, corduroy trousers and boots tightly laced so the rats could not run up the trouser leg.
Rather than being destroyed to prevent the spread of disease or the spoiling of grain, the captured rats were sold live for rat baiting, an ‘entertainment’ offered mainly in public houses. This blood sport became particularly popular after the 1835 Cruelty to Animals Act which prohibited the baiting of animals such as bulls and bears – as rats were not included. The rat pit was surrounded by viewing galleries. There were more rules than for boxing matches. Bets were placed on how many rats a specially bred dog could kill in a given time. A visitor at the time described going down into the stench of tobacco smoke, rats, dogs, blood, stale beer, dirty humans. We can only guess what the filling in the meat pies served was.
Catching rats with an assortment of traps and nets was a hazardous enterprise and many catchers died from infections. This occupation was included in the television series ‘The Worst Jobs In History’ presented by Tony Robinson. Jimmy Shaw, who had a famous rat pit at his Bermondsey pub, described rat catchers to Social Researcher Henry Mayhew as ‘Barn door labouring poor – the most ignorant people’. So what was the attraction of this trade? Answer – at that time an agricultural labourer earned between 7 and 12 shillings a week whereas a rat catcher could earn 15 shillings.
Our next meeting is on Tuesday 1 November 2016, 7.15 for 7.30 pm start, White Oak Indoor Bowls Centre, Garrolds Close, off Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, BR8 7BF.
For further information – www.swanleyhistorygroup.weebly.com, telephone Terry on 07884493894 Or Email [email protected]
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser