Meaning
A craftsman who worked with lead, installing and repairing pipes, gutters and roofing.
Description
The name plumber derives from the Latin word for lead, plumbum, reflecting the trade's original focus on working with lead. Victorian plumbers installed and maintained lead water pipes, cisterns, gutters and roof coverings. They also fitted the increasingly common bathroom and sanitary fittings as indoor plumbing became more widespread from the mid-19th century. The work required skill in joining and shaping lead and later in working with iron and copper pipes. Plumbers were in great demand during the Victorian era as towns invested in water supply and sewerage infrastructure.
Also Known As
Lead Worker, Gas Fitter, Sanitary Plumber
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Trade Directories
- Apprenticeship Records
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