Throughout history, as human societies evolved, so too did the need for specialized roles and professions. Some of these jobs, now long obsolete, might seem bizarre to us today. From the downright strange to the oddly specific, these professions offer a fascinating glimpse into how people once made their living. Here are eight old jobs that are so unusual, you might find it hard to believe they actually existed.
1. Knocker-Up
Before the invention of alarm clocks, industrial workers in Britain and Ireland relied on a “knocker-up” to wake them up for their early morning shifts. This person, armed with a long stick or baton, would tap on windows or doors to rouse sleeping workers at a pre-agreed time. In some cases, knocker-ups used pea shooters or short, heavy batons to create a sound loud enough to wake someone without disturbing the entire neighborhood. The knocker-up would not leave until they were certain the person was awake, ensuring they would not miss their work shift.
2. Leech Collector
In 18th and 19th century Europe, leeches were a highly sought-after commodity in the medical field for bloodletting, a common treatment believed to cure various ailments. Leeches were used to draw blood from patients, and leech collectors were responsible for gathering these creatures from swamps and marshes. Typically, these collectors would wade barefoot through bogs, allowing the leeches to attach themselves to their legs. Once enough leeches were collected, they would be carefully removed and stored, ready to be sold to apothecaries or physicians.
3. Rat Catcher
During the Victorian era, rat catchers were essential workers, especially in cities where rat infestations were rampant due to poor sanitation and overcrowding. These individuals would track down and kill or capture rats to prevent the spread of disease and damage to food supplies. Some rat catchers kept their own trained ferrets or terriers to assist in the hunt. They often had to develop ingenious methods to trap or poison the rats, sometimes catching them alive to sell to rat-baiting events, where people would bet on how many rats a dog could kill in a certain time frame.
4. Resurrectionist (Body Snatcher)
In the 18th and early 19th centuries, medical schools faced a significant shortage of cadavers for anatomical study. This demand gave rise to the profession of resurrectionists, also known as body snatchers. These individuals would exhumed recently buried corpses and sell them to medical schools. Body snatching was technically illegal and morally reprehensible, but it was a lucrative business for those willing to take the risk. The demand for bodies was so high that some resurrectionists even resorted to murder to meet the supply.
5. Groom of the Stool
The Groom of the Stool was a position in the royal court of England, first established during the reign of Henry VII. The person holding this role was responsible for attending to the king’s personal hygiene, particularly assisting him during his bathroom visits. As unappealing as this job sounds, the Groom of the Stool was actually a highly respected and trusted position, as the person would have close access to the monarch and often became a confidant. Over time, the role expanded to managing the kingโs finances and other private matters, making it a powerful and influential position within the court.
6. Sin-Eater
In some parts of 17th and 18th century Europe, particularly in rural England and Scotland, a sin-eater was a person who was paid to take on the sins of a deceased person. The sin-eater would be summoned to a funeral, where they would eat a piece of bread or a meal placed on the chest of the dead. It was believed that by consuming the food, the sin-eater absorbed the deceasedโs sins, allowing the departed soul to rest in peace. This practice was often carried out in secret, as it was considered an unholy ritual by the church. Sin-eaters were typically outcasts, living on the fringes of society due to the nature of their work.
7. Tosher
Toshers were scavengers who made their living by sifting through the sewers of 19th century London in search of valuable items. These individuals would wade through the muck and filth, hoping to find coins, jewelry, or any other object of worth that had been accidentally dropped into the sewers. Toshers usually worked at night to avoid detection by authorities, as entering the sewers was illegal without proper authorization. Despite the dangerous and unsanitary conditions, toshers could make a decent living from the treasures they found beneath the city streets.
8. Human Alarm Clock
Long before mechanical alarm clocks were commonplace, another method used to ensure people woke up on time was the human alarm clock. Similar to the knocker-up but more personalized, a human alarm clock was someone who was hired to wake individuals by knocking on their doors, ringing a bell, or calling out to them at a specific time. This job was common in many societies where punctuality was essential, such as in agricultural communities where the timing of work was dictated by daylight.
Conclusion
These strange and now obsolete jobs remind us of how much the world has changed over time. They also highlight the lengths to which people went to earn a living, often performing tasks that seem unthinkable today. As technology and society continue to evolve, it is fascinating to consider what current professions might one day seem just as strange to future generations.