Deal porter facts for kids
The deal porters were a special group of workers in London's docks. They handled huge pieces of softwood called "deal". Their job was to stack these heavy planks up to 60 feet (18 meters) high inside warehouses. This was a very tough and dangerous job. It needed great physical strength, skill, and a good head for heights. People even called them "Blondins" after a famous tightrope walker, Charles Blondin. To protect themselves, deal porters wore special leather hats called "backing hats". These hats had long "aprons" that covered their shoulders and necks from wood splinters.
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A Dangerous and Skilled Job
This job was known for being very risky. A report from 1928, called the New Survey of London Life and Labour, described it. It said that only experienced men could do deal portering safely. An experienced deal porter's shoulder would even develop a tough spot. This helped them carry the heavy planks.
Even with a hardened shoulder, the job was very difficult. Imagine carrying a bundle of slippery planks. You would walk on a shaky, slippery pathway. If you fell, you would almost certainly get a serious injury. This shows why deal porters were truly specialists.
Where They Worked
Most deal porters worked at the Surrey Commercial Docks in Rotherhithe, London. These docks were special because they mainly handled timber, which is wood. The workers had their own group, called the Port of London Deal Porters' Union. This union helped represent their interests.
Why They Disappeared
By the 1940s, the job of a deal porter became less common. New machines were invented that could move timber cargo. These machines were better and cheaper than human labor. Also, other jobs became available that were not as hard or dangerous. Because of these changes, the deal porters were no longer needed for their special work.
Remembering the Deal Porters
Even though their job no longer exists, the deal porters are remembered in Rotherhithe.
- At Canada Water, there is a sculpture made to honor them. It was designed by Philip Bews.
- There is a street named "Deal Porters Way".
- There is also a path called "Deal Porters Walk".
- A public square next to Canada Water Library is named "Deal Porters Square".
- A pub on Rotherhithe Street was once called "The Deal Porter".
