Meaning
A person employed on a private estate to manage game birds and animals and prevent poaching.
Description
Gamekeepers were employed by landowners to maintain stocks of game for hunting, controlling predators, managing habitats and enforcing the game laws against poachers. The role carried considerable authority on a rural estate and gamekeepers were often provided with a cottage and other benefits. Relations between gamekeepers and local communities could be tense, as the game laws were harsh and poaching was widespread among hungry rural workers. Gamekeepers kept detailed records of game killed and are often mentioned in estate accounts and newspaper reports of poaching cases.
Also Known As
Under-keeper, Head Keeper, Warrener
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Estate Records
- Trade Directories
- Newspaper Records
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