Thomas Phair, 1891 census

[SRD]

Whilst researching the Laker of Chiddingfold, Surrey branch of the Sussex Hillmans in the 1891 census for Chiddingfold (ED14 RG12 571 181 p23) I noticed the entry for their next door neighbour, a Thomas Phair Head M 33 London. I shan't put the entry in here as it may offend but I can find nothing on google and wondered if anyone here of a sturdy disposition might hazard a guess as to what he actually did for a living.

[Jimmy]

Stick varnisher.?

[Jimmy]

1901 as him as stick dresser. 1911 Walking Stick Dresser.

[SRD]

Ok, so I've just got a mucky mind.
Taken from http://www.brighton.ac.uk/screenarchive ... thing.html

The men in this still are formally dressed and despite the summer season they wear three-piece woollen suits consisting of jacket, waistcoat and trousers. Their outfits are accessorised with homburg hats and two men hold walking sticks. Walking sticks had been a favoured male accessory since the eighteenth century, although they declined in fashion during the twentieth century.

The West Sussex Record Office hold business records relating to Messrs. Lintott and Co., who were walking stick makers of Witley, Surrey. The company was founded in 1858. They bought the cutting rights of local woods and had their own plantations. The business operated until 1968 and the West Sussex Record Office has documents dating from the 1920s.

Witley is next door to Chiddingfold.

Actually I think the gentlemen in the picture are carrying umbrellas rather than walking sticks.

[snoopysue]

One of them is definately an umberella, not sure about the other one though!