Odd jobs - Carting with Dad, 1896
During much of 1895 and 1896 Billy was living out of Horsham on
building and painting jobs. For most of 1896 he was employed at
Hampton Court Palace on a series of painting and restoration jobs.
When this work came to a close, he looked round London for work at
first but finally answered the summons of his Mother and returned
to Horsham to help his Father with the “family business”. This
consisted of running a delivery service with a couple of horses,
odd jobs around the town, a little relief postal delivery and
chimney sweeping. The building industry was very depressed in the
late 1890s and Billy found it difficult to find much work in that
line but from time to time he was able to get a few days house
painting.
Monday 26th October 1896
Started work in earnest today at the stable. “Got out” for Eldred
Brooks[1] but the poor old fellow was
took with a fit before we got far. Got him home again and shut out
for today.
Tuesday 27th October 1896
Out with Brooks today round Warnham, Slinfold to Billingshurst
distributing price lists for General Supply Stores, West Street.
Had the little black mare. Find she goes better than when I drove
her last winter.
Wednesday 28th October 1896
[Delivering] for Brooks again (Black mare). Did Mannings Heath,
Crabtree, Cowfold, West Grinstead and Southwater.
Crabtree Road and Red Lion Hotel,
Cowfold, c. 1901-1914, reproduced with permission from West Sussex
Past Pictures, Ref: PP/WSL/PC002958;
Image credit.
Thursday 29th October 1896
[In the] stable all day repairing the window.
Friday 30th October 1896
This afternoon drove Fred Sendall to Broome Hall to fetch
[painting] plant. They have just finished a job there
(greenhouses).
Saturday 31st October 1896
Cleaned Sendall’s windows and made out a few bills.
Sunday 1st November 1896
Got the horse out for Albert this morning. He is now doing West
Grinstead sub-round.[2]
Tuesday 3rd November 1896
Drove Eldred Brooks round Rudgwick, Oakwood Hill, Ockley, Capel and
Kingsfold, finishing the job for the General Supply Stores. Good
thing too, not much to be made on that job, only 4/6 per day.
Better than nothing I suppose. Had fine weather and a beautiful
drive. The Little Black Mare goes a treat now. I was struck with
the beautiful scenery all round, especially from Oakwood Hill.
Seems to me more attractive than ever after the flats of the Thames
Valley.
Wednesday 4th November 1896
Out with Big Mare for Mr Lane, first to Comptons Lea, then shifted
some furniture and luggage from Manor House to Bartelott
Road.
Thursday 5th November 1896
Done a little job for Lane again today. Drove Smith to Plummers
Plain.
Friday 6th November 1896
[To] Crawley for King and Chasemore collecting boards on the Goffs
Hill Estate. Took a couch to Roffey Park for Kane on the way.
Roffey Park, Horsham, c. 1920,
reproduced with permission from West Sussex Past Pictures, Ref:
PP/WSL/PC004767, Rep: West Sussex County Council Library Service:
Image source.
Monday and Tuesday 9th & 10th November 1896
Did various small jobs for Biggs, Sendall Brothers and
others.
Wednesday 11th November 1896
Been to East Grinstead today for Lane with horse and van. My first
visit to that place.
Thursday 12th November 1896
Went to Shipley with load of furniture for a Mr Rowle and again on
Friday, first going to Roffey Place for Mr Lane, Mrs McConnell,
late of Comptons Lea, going to Roffey Place.
Monday to Saturday 16th – 21st November 1896
Been fairly busy all week with horses. I’ve had a journey nearly
every day. Sweeping fair[3].
Saturday 28th November 1896
Forrest Green for Mr Quick. Cold ride. This has been a very slack
week in the way of work for the horses.
Monday 30th November 1896
Drove to Bolney this evening for Mr Marshall, North Street.
Bolney stagecoach in front of the
Queen's Head, Bolney, c. 1904, reproduced with permission from West
Sussex Past Pictures, Ref: PP/WSL/L000424, Rep: West Sussex County
Council Library Service:
Image credit.
Saturday 5th December 1896
This week has been a very slack one for work. Horses done scarce
anything. Hope things will turn before Xmas or it’s a poor
prospect.
Monday 7th December 1896
Have not done a stroke today, at least not that will bring any
return. Is this to be a week like last?
Week ending 12th December 1896
Slack all week with both horses. Sweeping a bit brisker towards the
end of the week.
Tuesday 15th December 1896
Went to Faygate this morning for Humphrey after turkeys and this
afternoon Dad and I carted oil for Biggs.
Week ending 19th December 1896
Have been much busier this week, both at sweeping and with the
horses. I very much doubt if letting horses is a paying game.
Although this has been a comparatively good week compared with
many, there is only enough return to pay expenses. On Friday and
Saturday I rigged out in “Black” just to give Dad a start with the
earlier orders[4].
Christmas Eve 24th December 1896
Had a miserable job driving round for Payne Baker, Station Road,
the weather being anything but the orthodox Xmas sort. Instead of
that we had rain very hard. Rather bad for business.
- [1] Eldred Brooks was a
“bill poster and deliverer” aged about 60 at this time and living
on the London Road, Horsham (1901 English Census). Earlier censuses
suggest he had been a shoemaker.
- [2] Albert, Billy’s 17
year old brother, was now doing a postal round.
- [3] This is a passing
reference to chimney sweeping which was his Father’s main source of
income at this time. Billy did not want to take up this poorly
regarded occupation if he could avoid it.
- [4] Billy has
reluctantly commenced sweeping chimneys himself.
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