RichardB Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Partial description of Sheffield Parish Church around 1800 : Only a hundred seats were nomimated 'free' so few of the poorer folk could find room to sit or stand and were effectively precluded from most services. The charity school children were admitted in the galleries and four knock-nobblers were employed. So, Google me this please, what was a knock-nobbler ? Answers on a postcard, usual terms and conditions apply, vote now (£4.50 a minutes, calls last 3 months) etc etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield History Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 hmm..... that's a good one - might take some time to find this answer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tsavo Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Partial description of Sheffield Parish Church around 1800 : Only a hundred seats were nomimated 'free' so few of the poorer folk could find room to sit or stand and were effectively precluded from most services. The charity school children were admitted in the galleries and four knock-nobblers were employed. So, Google me this please, what was a knock-nobbler ? Answers on a postcard, usual terms and conditions apply, vote now (£4.50 a minutes, calls last 3 months) etc etc From Reminiscences of Sheffield, Transcribed by Eric Youle: The last authentic note of incarceration in the Church Gates' stocks is in I790, when " nine men were put in for tippling in a public-house during Divine Service." At the same time two boys were " made to do penance in the church for playing at trip during Divine Service, by standing in the midst of the church, with their trip-sticks erect." The " knock- nobbler," whose duty it was to look after offenders of this kind, and to prevent people from going to sleep, uas a recognised official, much dreaded by the young, for he never hesitated to " nobble" with vigour. In many places, as Hope (I699), he was called the dog-whipper, one of his duties being to keep stray dogs out of the church, or, if they got in, to whip them out. Thanks for the challenge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield History Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Well done Tsavo ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardB Posted March 28, 2007 Author Share Posted March 28, 2007 Great work, I've read somewhere the knock-nobbles basically bonked people on the head with a stick, either to wake them up, or to get the kids to be quiet. Also In Wrexham in 1663, Church ledgers entries state: ' He that keeps ye dogs out of church is ordered to have 2/6d quarterly and 5/- for arrears'. Persons appointed to this role were known as Dog whippers, Knocknobblers or Sluggard Walkers! 2/6d = 2 Shillings and sixpence (12½ new pence); 5/- = 5 Shillings (25 new pence). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardB Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 Any vacancies for knock-nobblers, I wonder ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tiz Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Any vacancies for knock-nobblers, I wonder ?high bradfield church has two slender poles with brass balls on the tips ,they stand at the back of the pews ,could these i wonder be knobbling sticks ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardB Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 high bradfield church has two slender poles with brass balls on the tips ,they stand at the back of the pews ,could these i wonder be knobbling sticks ? Hi Tiz Welcome and thanksfor your reply. Sounds like a question for the Incumbent or perhaps for Ken Dodd lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayleaf Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 high bradfield church has two slender poles with brass balls on the tips ,they stand at the back of the pews ,could these i wonder be knobbling sticks ? Or are they the churchwardens' staffs of office? I like your idea better though! (And welcome to the Forum!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveHB Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Knockknobbler - A dog catcher? www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardB Posted November 11, 2010 Author Share Posted November 11, 2010 Just been reminded about this, how typical it was Tsavo in like Flynn with the answer ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest plain talker Posted November 13, 2010 Share Posted November 13, 2010 Just been reminded about this, how typical it was Tsavo in like Flynn with the answer ... Ahh, dear Tsavo.... how he is missed RIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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