[sclarke624]

Some of those old professions sound so interesting don't they, a lot of mine were barometer makers and glass polishers then theres the car men (horse and cart, in this case for smithfield market), boot tree maker, etc and other halfs fur pullers which is no where near as glamorous as the mother in law made out about her granny being in the fur trade.  A fur puller yanked the fur off the rabbits usually in there own place and it stunk apparently.

[Paul Plots]

I visited my old childhood home over half-term: Crystal Palace / Upper Norwood. One of my relatives lived at Gypsy Hill in the days slightly before "enclosure" (born 1778) so may well have had her home on open land. She, Diana, was reputed to have lived to (what would have been in those days) an extremely old age...96. Her birth place records were muddled and stated several places around Sussex / Hampshire. Apparently this, and her longevity, may well point to her having been of gypsy stock!

It's a very different Gypsy Hill these days but still has wonderful views over parts of London! I lived 5 minutes walk from there.   

[tode]

It surprised me how many people were 'gardeners',  working the land in one way or another.
And horses.  The world seemed to turn around horses in those days.

Found one coprolite digger, but no highwaymen        

[Paul Plots]

It surprised me how many people were 'gardeners',  working the land in one way or another.
And horses.  The world seemed to turn around horses in those days.

Found one coprolite digger, but no highwaymen        

That's one particularly clear memory from my childhood: Seeing the baker's horse eat our next-door neighbour's front garden by leaning over the hedge. It was worth rushing down a long flight of stairs and waiting for the pandemonium that always followed.  The horse always just continued munching  until it was time for the horse to wander along to the next house who had their bread delivered.