UK - forgotten traditions
pedlars
 1885 Cornish pedlar |
[This is a short piece because pedlars did not leave much trace: research continues]
From Roman times men have gone around fairs, isolated houses and villages selling thier wares. Many of these were migrants from Scotland and Europe. To make their customers aware of their presence they approached playing a bell, a trumper or a pipe and tabor. Before trains made extensive travel possible all year round they were an essential part of the economy. The world wars put an end to this trade in the UK. For example Arthur Rothery, [1890-1918], born in Hebden Bridge, was listed as a hawker/pedlar. He was killed in WW1.
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 1562 Netherlands, pedlar asleep in a wood robbed by monkeys by Pieter van der Heyden |
 1562 drummer |
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 1562 piper playing for dancing |
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| A description of the type of goods a haberdashery pedlar might carry is given by Autolycus in 'A Winter's Tale' by William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) : |
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The Pedlar Chorus and verse 1 "Come here, come here my pretty dear, 1796 song by Dibdin
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| Details of some pedlars in England in the 19th century are in “Pedlars and Packmen in Westmoreland” here | |||||
Charles Dibdin (1745 -1814) was an actor, playwright and songwriter whose haberdasher played the pipe and tabor.
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