Genealogy Chat

The book's called 'London Town a tour of Victorian London' Verses by Felix Leigh, illustrated by Thomas Crane and Ellen Houghton. It was first published in 1883 but my copy is a facsimile from 1985. The poems include ones about the penny-ice man, penny toy man, the orange girl, charity girls, the milk woman, muffin man, shoeblacks, nightwatchman, flower woman, chestnut woman, crossing sweeper and the dustman. The Cats Meat Man He calls 'Meat, meat!' All down the Street; And dogs 'bow-wow,' And cats 'mi-ow,' While kittens sly Come purring by, As if to say- 'Do serve us, pray, The first of all, For we're so small.' The man throws bits Of meat to kits, And cats, and dogs; Then he jogs, And down the street Still cries 'Meat, meat!'

Cat's Meat was usually horse. And other things. OC

Thanks everyone. I would like to hear the poem about the Cat meat man!

Just in case you think he was selling meat from cats, I think it actually means he was selling food FOR cats. Lots of people had cats in those days to keep the mice down, so I would imagine there were lots of customers. Kath. x

If you go to the google images you'll find the illustration from the book. If only I knew where I'd put my copy.

Definately Cats meat. Legend has it one of my relations was a cat meat man and after years of searching I found him last week, (I think) I got so obsessed with this individual that I even bought a book of Victorian nursery rhymes cos it had a poem about one. Have a google using 'cat meat man' but I wouldn't go any further down the page once you reach the site that mentions Korea!

I have had a look at the original, I'm afraid it is cats meat

hi darren ive just googled cat meat hawker it looks like a profession hope this helps berni

As you will be able to see from the details below two of my Ancestors occupation is described as 'Hawker of cats meat' and another 'Hawker of cake meat' Please tell me it should be Cake and not Cat meat!! Household: Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability George PENN Head M Male 23 Hackney General Labourer Sarah PENN Wife M Female 22 Islington Hawker Of Cake ? Meat George H. PENN Son U Male 1 Hackney, Middlesex, England Alice TABNAM Sister In Law U Female 14 Islington, Middlesex, England Hawker Of Cats Meat -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source Information: Dwelling 12 Bradbury St Census Place London, Middlesex, England Family History Library Film 1341063 Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 0292 / 26 Page Number 45