Genealogy Chat

Not particularly relevant to your ancestors I know, but I thought you might find this little snippet of interest! We have lots of travellers of various types in our part of the county - and many of them live in withies. Like previous replies, it is thin, bendy willow and they are made into domes or 'igloo' shapes. Mandy :)

Withies are usually willow which are coppiced every year so that the new growth is flexible. The withies are then soaked and sometimes split, to make wicker furniture and baskets etc. not sure how much is done is this country but a lot is done in Madeira.

I thought it might be just wanted to make sure!! Thanks again Sue

Probably a domestic servant with a family as a kitchen maid or a tweeny etc. Brenda Actually, I'm impressed. Women's occupations don't usually go down on certificates. Anyone would have thought that my granny had lived at home all her life, not spent half of it working as a cook, when she married.

Thanks again Brenda I will look into that!! I dont suppose you know what In Service means aswell? THis was on my g grandmothers occupation. Ive only just recieved their marriage certificate so im trying to find out what this means!! Sue

I suspect that what is made depends on the area. You often find that basket makers are blind, which may mean it is a very poorly paid job. Woodlands were coppiced specifically to provide thin, flexible shoots. They clearly had lots of uses, but I don't know what they all were. Thomas Hardy's The Woodlanders does provide interesting descriptions, particularly of the women working. Brenda

Thanks Brenda Do you mean like a basket maker possibly? Sue

Withies are thin, bendy bits of wood. He's probably making hurdles and things of that nature.

can anybody help my ancestor was a withy worker can anyone tell me what this was? thanks sue