Night watchman

[Vivienne14]

A role now disappeared, performed nowadays by security companies. Viv.

Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[Morturn]

That brings back memories Viv, the building site night watchman. The ones I remember would have a hut made from tarpaulins. The coke brazier could boil the kettle in less than a minute. Love the Stera Milk bottle.

 

[Vivienne14]

An amusing tale. Watchmen (pre-police/peelers) seem to have had a sentry box and were called "Charlies". This sentry box was on Easy Row.


Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[lmr3103]

Viv when my Grandad passed away in 1939, his occupation was listed as a Night Watchman. He was limited in his career due to losing his leg in the First World War with injuries to the other.
I think the term then meant what we’d class as a security guard today.