Trades
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Part of the employment structure of Elizabethan England was the existence of guilds.  These were groups formed for the regulation of their own profession, including deciding what prices to set for goods.  We know them as guilds, but in this time period, they were actually called Livery Companies.  This link takes you to a list of Livery Companies in London.  This can be used as a reference as to trades of the era as well as the list of trades that appears in the table below. 

Position

Description

Source Title Link

Acater

buys what your estate doesn't supply

 

Apothecary

drugs and spices

Compendium of Common Knowledge

Armorer

makes armor

Compendium of Common Knowledge

Astronomer

fortune-teller

 

Bagger

makes sacks

 

Baker

 

 

Balance-maker

 

 

Balladeer

 

 

Barber-surgeon

dentistry

Compendium of Common Knowledge

Basin-beater

makes metal tubs

 

Bather

runs the bath house

 

Bellfounder

makes large (civic) bells

 

Bellmaker

makes small bells

 

Belter

 

 

Blacksmith

iron worker

Compendium of Common Knowledge

Blockcutter

for block printing

 

Bookbinder

 

 

Bookprinter

 

 

Bowyer

makes bows

Compendium of Common Knowledge

Brewer

 

 

Bricker

bricklayer

 

Bronze-founder

 

 

Brush-binder

 

 

Butcher

 

 

Capper

 

 

Cardmaker

 

 

Carpenter

 

 

Chandler

makes candles

 

Clapperdudgeon

Pretend beggar; would create sores with ratsbane and arsenic Tudor Odours

Clerk

 

 

Clockmaker

 

 

Clothier

 

 

Cobbler

makes shoes

 

Cocker

 

 

Cofferer

 

 

Combmaker

wire brushes (for grooming and woolwork)

 

Compass-smith

 

 

Conner

tests beer

 

Constable

 

 

Cook

 

 

Cooper

makes barrels

 

Coppersmith

 

 

Counter

accountant; keeps the books

 

Coxwain

ship's steerman

 

Crofter

small farmer

 

Cryer

 

 

Currier

leather worker

 

Cutler

makes knives

 

Cutter

wood-cutter

 

Deywife

milkmaid

 

Ditcher

 

 

Draper

simple, ready-made clothes as well as wholesale cloth and dry goods

Compendium of Common Knowledge

Drummer

 

 

Dyer

dyes cloth

 

Embroider

 

 

Engraver

decorative wood-worker

 

Fabric-shearer

cuts fabric

 

Factor

Does business for you elsewhere (other town, foreign country, etc.) Compendium of Common Knowledge

Falconer

trains falcons

 

Farmer

 

 

Farrier

makes horseshoes

Compendium of Common Knowledge

Fiddler

 

 

Fisherman

 

 

Fishmonger

 

 

Fletcher

makes arrows

Compendium of Common Knowledge

Fool

Yes, this is a job

 

Fowler

your personal bird-hunter

 

Fuller

launderer

 

Furrier

Trapper

 

Gemcutter

 

 

Glasspainter

 

 

Glazier

makes glass windows

 

Glover

makes gloves

 

Goldsmith

 

 

Grinder

sharpens tools

 

Grocer

 

 

Gunsmith

makes the metal parts of a gun

 

Gunstocker

makes the gunstock

 

Haberdasher

 

 

Harper

 

 

Hedger

 

 

Hooper

 

 

Hunter

 

 

Instructor

teacher (usually teach only a few things; highly specialized)

 

Joiner

puts furniture pieces together

 

Landlord

runs a tavern (not an inn)

 

Lantern-maker

 

 

Lavender

washerwoman

 

Lawyer

legal service

Compendium of Common Knowledge

Limner

portraitist

Compendium of Common Knowledge

Locksmith

 

 

Lutemaker

 

 

Lutenist

plays the lute

 

Mail-maker

 

 

Man of Business

accountant; looks after investments Compendium of Common Knowledge

Mariner

 

 

Mason

stonecutter/carver

 

Mercer

sells cloth retail

Compendium of Common Knowledge

Miller

 

 

Milliner

hat maker

Compendium of Common Knowledge

Miner

 

 

Mintmaster

coin stamper

 

Mirrorer

 

 

Monger

peddlar

 

Musician

 

 

Nailer

 

 

Needler

 

 

Nurse

takes care of infants

Compendium of Common Knowledge

Oilmaker

 

 

Ostler

runs an inn

 

Painter

 

 

Paperer

 

 

Parchmenter

 

 

Peddler

 

 

Pewterer

 

 

Physician

medical service

 

Pin-maker

 

 

Playerd

actor

 

Ploughman

 

 

Pointmaker

 

 

Potter

 

 

Proctor

legal agent

 

Purser

 

 

Raker

Rake up heaps of manure and dung from the streets.1 Tudor Odours

Reaper

 

 

Redsmith

works in bronze

 

Roper

 

 

Saddler

makes saddles

 

Sawyer

cuts wood boards

 

Schoolmaster

 

 

Scrivener

 

 

Seamstress

Makes shirts/smocks Compendium of Common Knowledge

Stapler

Buys and sells raw wool, silk, and linen Compendium of Common Knowledge

Stationer

Bookseller Compendium of Common Knowledge

Steward

Overseen running of estates Compendium of Common Knowledge

Tailor

Makes suits of clothes Compendium of Common Knowledge

Wet Nurse

Breast feeds the baby Compendium of Common Knowledge

Last updated 11/11/00