He did what!?!

[dawnlea]

Hello everyone!

I was just wondering if anyone could shed any light on my ggggggrandfather's profession. On his will, it says that he worked as a serge maker. Has anyone got any clues. He lived in Calne, Wiltshire if that is of any use.

Thanks

Dawn

 

[admin]

Hi Dawn,

I believe that "serge" had something to do with Wool. With the
Maker of a type of woolcloth called serge maker. I have also found that the cloth mills in Wiltshire & Somerset were famous for their serge cloth upto the mid 1800's.

There was also the "Blue Serge" used by the Police unifiorms.

Hope that helpd,

Dave

 

[Michael White]

Dawn,
Yes,
Serge was an all purpose cloth, usually used in situations where it had to be hard-wearing. Soldiers uniforms, same for nurses in the early days. Domestic servants were usually dresses in this cloth too.

It had the benefit of being relatively cheap, but was universally disliked as it was coarse and very 'itchy & scratchy'

Michael White