Dawn’s Forgotten Heroes: The Knocker-Ups

In the misty mornings of the Industrial Revolution, before alarm clocks became commonplace, a unique profession emerged in Britain, the Netherlands, and Ireland. These were the knocker-ups, human alarm clocks who roused sleeping workers to ensure they reached their jobs on time.

Armed with long sticks or pea-shooters, knocker-ups tapped on windows and doors, their rhythmic knocking a prelude to the day’s labor. For a few pence a week, they sold punctuality, a commodity as precious as any produced in the smoky factories their clients hurried towards.

Among these unsung heroes, Mary Smith stands out. Immortalized in Andrea U’Ren’s children’s book, Mary’s story breathes life into this forgotten profession. As dawn broke, Mary set out with her long tube and pouch of dried peas. With unwavering dedication, she moved through the streets, her peas clattering against windows high and low.

From laundry maids to the town mayor, Mary’s clients spanned the social spectrum. Her job wasn’t just about disrupting sleep; it was about keeping the wheels of industry turning. Each tap of her pea-shooter ensured workers arrived on time and shops opened as the town stirred to life.

But Mary’s day didn’t end with her rounds. In a delightful twist, her final client was her own daughter, Molly. This tender moment humanizes Mary, transforming her from a mere timekeeper to a mother, a worker, a vital cog in the industrial machine.

The profession of knocker-up was often carried out by elderly men and pregnant women. In some cases, police constables supplemented their income by taking on the role during early morning patrols. Their methods varied – some wouldn’t leave until they were sure their client was awake, while others simply tapped and moved on.

As alarm clocks became more affordable and reliable, the knocker-ups faded into history. By the 1950s, the profession had all but disappeared, lingering only in pockets of industrial England until the early 1970s.

Mary Smith’s story preserves this unique profession in the amber of memory. It reminds us of a time when waking up was a communal affair, and punctuality was delivered with a personal touch. The gentle tap-tap-tap of the knocker-up remains a cherished echo of a bygone era, a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of those who kept time before the age of alarms.

Staff Reporter Bidisha Ghosh