THE NINETEENTH CENTURY: A TIME OF
EXPANSION FOR WALSALL

Already Britain’s expanding overseas empire as well as her involvement in the Napoleonic Wars was having a considerable effect on the quantities, as well as types of lorinery products made in the town. Pearce’s Directory of Walsall gives the numbers of men employed in the trade, and allied trades, in 1813 as follows:

15

Awl blade-makers

3

Martingale hook-makers

1

Brass coach founder

30

Platers

10

Bridle bit-makers

2

Roller buckle-makers

1

Bridle tong-maker

2

Tin pelham-makers

10

Buckle-makers

23

Stirrup-makers

1

Buckle stamper

4

Saddle tree-makers

1

Coach iron founder

14

Saddlers’ ironmongers

2

Coach brassfounders

3

Spring saddle bar-makers

1

Brass coach harness-maker

3

Stay-makers

1

Bridoon-maker

14

Snaffle-makers

2

Curb and roller buckle-makers

2

Tinned snaffle and bit-makers

7

Curb-makers

6

Spur-makers

8

Coach bit-makers

1

Snaffle and bridoon-maker

2

Chape-makers

25

Bit-makers

1

Black chain-maker

It is interesting to note the degree of specialism of some of these craftsmen. There are buckle and roller buckle-makers. There are also snaffle, bridoon and pelham-makers. All these three refer to different types of bits (the snaffle and bridoon being very similar in design and function). It is also interesting that curb chains for bits are obviously made by different individuals again, the craft of chain making using different techniques to bit forging.

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