wheelwright?

[helenc]

hi my g-grandad was a wheelwright amongst other things eg postman and voluntary policeman. but what did he actually do as a wheelwright he was born in 1884 in rural suffolk and was killed in an accident in 1942. the obvious did they just make wheels for carts and was it very skilled, did they serve an apprenticeship? how long etc i'm really interested to find out anything at all!!!

[Geoffers]

hi my g-grandad was a wheelwright.......the obvious did they just make wheels for carts and was it very skilled, did they serve an apprenticeship? how long etc i'm really interested to find out anything at all!!!
Yes he would have been apprenticed for this very skilled job, apprenticeships varied in length but would probably have been between 5 and 9 years.

Living in a small village he may well also have been a wainwright - making and repairing carts and wagons for use on farms. Skilled in the uses of different woods, he could have turned his hand to many carpentry jobs.

There are several books available on old crafts and occupations, many larger libraries carry a selection.

Geoffers

[TerryK]

Helen,
Try to get the book `The Wheelwrights shop.` author, George Sturt.
It describes the life of a wheelwright in great detail. The author was actually the wheelwright.
Regards
Terry
P.S. I have the book in the attic somewhere (if you have difficulty obtaining it.)

[Geoffers]

Try to get the book `The Wheelwrights shop.` author, George Sturt. It describes the life of a wheelwright in great detail. The author was actually the wheelwright.
Well done Terry. I've been trawling my bookshelves trying to find same. For Helen, the book is still available, published by Cambridge University Press ISBN 0521 09195 0

Geoffers

[Copper]

When I discovered wheelwrights in my tree I bought the George Sturt book too. I read it from cover to cover and I am still in awe at just how skilled they all were.

[helenc]

hi thanks to all for such a spedy reply!!! i will certainly be trying to get my hands on a copy of the book!!!