Knocker-up facts for kids
A knocker-up was a person whose job was to wake people up for work. This important job existed in places like the Netherlands, Britain, and Ireland. It was popular during the Industrial Revolution, a time when alarm clocks were expensive and not very good. Knocker-ups made sure workers got to their jobs on time. By the 1940s and 1950s, this job mostly disappeared. But in some parts of England, it continued until the early 1970s.
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What Did a Knocker-Up Do?
Knocker-ups used different tools to wake their clients. They might use a short, heavy stick called a baton. This was used to knock on people's doors. For windows on higher floors, they used a long, light stick. These long sticks were often made of bamboo.
One famous photo from 1931 shows a knocker-up in East London. This person used a pea-shooter to wake people. For their work, knocker-ups were paid a small amount of money. It was usually a few pence each week. Some knocker-ups would stay until they were sure the person was awake. Others just tapped a few times and then moved on.
Knocker-ups also used a tool called a 'snuffer outer'. This tool was used to put out gas lamps. Gas lamps were lit at dusk to provide light. They needed to be put out at dawn.
Who Were Knocker-Ups?
Many people worked as knocker-ups. This was especially true in big industrial cities. Manchester was one such city. Often, elderly men and pregnant women did this job. Sometimes, police officers earned extra money. They would wake people up during their early morning patrols.
Famous Knocker-Ups and Their Stories
Molly Moore said she was the last person to work as a knocker-up. Her mother, Mary Smith, was also a knocker-up. Mary Smith is the main character in a children's picture book. The book is called Mary Smith by Andrea U'Ren. Both Smith and Moore used a long rubber tube. They would shoot dried peas at windows to wake people.
In Ferryhill, County Durham, miners had special boards. These were slate boards built into their outside walls. Miners would write their work shift times on these boards with chalk. This way, the knocker-up knew when to wake them. These boards were called "knocky-up boards" or "wake-up slates."
Knocker-Ups in Pop Culture
The job of a knocker-up has appeared in books and shows.
- Charles Dickens's book Great Expectations mentions a knocker-up briefly.
- Hindle Wakes is a play by Stanley Houghton. It was also made into a movie. Both feature a knocker-up.
- The TV show The Worst Jobs in History talks about knocker-ups. This happens in the episode called "The Industrial Revolution."
- A knocker-up appears at the start of the musical The Wind Road Boys. He walks past children holding slates. The numbers on the slates showed what time people wanted to wake up. He would call out and tap on windows with his stick.
