Meaning
A craftsman who worked in woodland, using a pole lathe to turn chair legs and spindles from green wood.
Description
Bodgers worked deep in beech woodlands, particularly in the Chiltern Hills, living in temporary shelters while they felled and worked timber on site. Using a simple foot-powered pole lathe they produced chair legs, stretchers and spindles which were then sold to chair makers in nearby towns such as High Wycombe. The work was seasonal and solitary. The term bodger in its original sense carried no negative meaning — it described a skilled woodland craftsman.
Also Known As
Pole Lathe Turner, Wood Turner, Chair Leg Maker
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Trade Directories
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