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The ‘Link Boys’ & ‘Snuffers’ of old London town!!

Posted on December 6, 2018 by Geoff Clements Posted in Quirky Topics, Street - Fixtures & Fittings .

 

This week’s blog for publication onto the ‘London Shoes’ website, in some ways falls into the category of ‘quirky’ – however, historically, the topic provides today’s world with a remarkable insight into an aspect of every day London life well over 200 years ago.

This week’s blog is all about the “Link Boys & Snuffers” of old London!!!

Today, we take street lighting for granted, but long before the invention of gas lighting and its implementation throughout London’s streets – Londoner’s had to make their own devices to enable them to find their way around the streets at night – streets that were particularly dark and dangerous after dark, making walking around them an extremely risky business.

Because there was no public lighting, the authorities encouraged the public to make their own arrangements regarding having sufficient lighting to find their way around after dark – and, to prevent potential crime, those Londoner’s residing in the more affluent streets and districts were advised to make provisions so that flamed torches/lanterns could be erected and displayed outside their front doors.

This ‘flamed torch’ lighting was not a problem for the wealthy as invariably they had servants in ‘service’ who would do the job of lighting up the front of the house – and more importantly, would carry a flamed torch in front of their ‘master’ whenever they were out and about on the streets at night.

However, the ordinary Londoner could not afford such luxuries – and so would have to rely on the services of a “Link Boy” to guide them through the darkness.

A “Link Boy” was really a young street urchin exploited in child labour – who would carry a homemade ‘flamed torch’ made from reeds and cotton and coated in wax, tallow and tar, that formed the ‘wick’ – this ‘torch’ was known as a ‘Link’.

‘Link Boys’ could be found on the corner of most of London’s busiest streets, and would charge punters a couple of farthings to provide a guiding light to wherever their destination was.

However, Link Boys were very often connected to criminal activity, and would be paid to lead their ‘clients’ down dark alleys , where there would be gangs of muggers waiting to ambush and rob them.

An interesting fact here is that the expression “Couldn’t hold a candle to” used when describing something as inferior to something else – derives from comparisons made at that time, between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ Link Boys!!!! – (it just goes to show, you learn something new every day)

“Link Boys” were regularly referred to in the literary works of Samuel Pepys and Charles Dickens – and even mentioned as far back as Shakespeare’s time in his play Henry IV.

With the eventual arrival and roll-out of gas street lighting, the role of the Link Boy obviously declined – but paintings and illustrations of those times, depict their existence and importance to every day London life.

So – what are ‘Snuffers’ all about??

When using a flamed torch to find your way around the streets, and having arrived at your destination – you then needed something to extinguish the ‘flame’ – and this would be done by using a ‘Snuffer’ (or link extinguisher, to give it its formal name).

These “Snuffers” were iron horn shaped fixtures that were attached to iron railings surrounding a front door of the wealthier and prestigious properties in London.

The ‘flamed torch’ would simply be ‘snuffed-out’ by sticking it in the ‘Snuffer’ – so as not to waste the wax etc. covering the wick of the torch – allowing it to be re-used over and over again.

So – my quest this week was to ‘sniff-out’ those ‘Snuffers’ that still remain in situ throughout London, some 200 years or more since they were used.

This was an enjoyable little challenge – and I have posted several photos of the ‘Snuffers’ I located – which hopefully bring the subject matter to life a little bit.

Having ‘sniffed-out’ these ‘Snuffers’ I decided to pay a visit to one of London’s historically infamous boozers – the “Viaduct Tavern”, just across the road from the Old Bailey, and built on the site of the old Newgate Prison.

This famous old pub first opened in 1869 – at the same time the iconic Holborn Viaduct landmark was opened.

It was one of London’s most notorious ‘Gin Palaces’ which also had an opium den located on its first floor. It was a seriously rough old joint – so much so, that the landlord would have ‘vet’ punters at a ticket booth located by the entrance door, and then hand out ‘beer vouchers’ to those that he felt wouldn’t cause any trouble when buying a beer at the bar.

So – having been given my ‘beer voucher’, it was left to me to sink a couple of ‘cheeky’ ones at the bar, before making my way back home.

Hope you found this one interesting and enjoy the accompanying photos.

 

Green Park tube station – the nearest stop to where the majority of the ‘Snuffers’ can be found

 

An old illustration showing a ‘Link Boy’ in action.

 

Another old illustration showing how ‘Snuffers’ were used to extinguish the flamed torches.

 

A close-up shot of a ‘Snuffer’ over 200 years old – located near St. James Street.

 

Me – with a ‘Snuffer’ above me barnet – in Cavendish Square

 

Berkley Square – the location of the majority of London’s remaining ‘Snuffers’

 

A row of houses surrounding Berkley Square, where most still have the 200 yr old Snuffers in situ

 

A house in Berkley Square with its ‘Snuffers’ still in situ

 

Another example of a Berkley Square ‘Snuffer’

 

A very picturesque & peaceful Berkley Square itself

 

Another original ‘Snuffer’ located in Berkley Square

 

And yet another of the Berkley Square ‘Snuffers’

 

 

 

And finally, one more original ‘Snuffer’ that can be found in Berkley Square

 

Nothing to do with ‘Snuffers’ – but a seasonally decorated frontage to a residence in Berkley Square

A scenic shot of Berkley Square itself

 

Me – having ‘sniffed-out’ all the ‘Snuffers’ in Berkley Square

 

An old illustration that depicts how the Link Boys would very often lead their ‘clients’ down a back alley – where they would be ambushed by a gang of muggers.

 

Amen Corner, at the back of the Old Bailey – where there can be found a row of old Georgian houses, which were once the homes of clergymen working at nearby St. Paul’s Cathedral – all o0f these houses still have their original ‘Snuffers’

 

The row of old Georgian houses, which were once the homes of clergymen working at nearby St. Paul’s Cathedral – all o0f these houses still have their original ‘Snuffers’.

 

The ‘Snuffers’ of Amen Corner

 

Me – alongside the ‘Snuffers’ of Amen Corner

 

Curzon Street Mayfair – where a couple of unusual ‘Snuffers’ are located

 

No.21-23 Curzon Street Mayfair – where the distinctive original ‘Snuffers’ have been painted gold

 

A close-up of the gold Snuffers of Curzon Street- Mayfair

 

Me – and the 2 gold “Snuffers” of Curzon Street Mayfai

 

Cavendish Square – another location where a few properties still have their original ‘Snuffers’ fixtures.

 

A picturesque and peaceful Cavendish Square

 

The ‘Snuffers’ of Cavendish Square

 

An example of the sort of residences that encircle Cavendish Square

 

St. James Square – where a fine example of an original ‘Snuffer’ can be found.

 

The original old Snuffers on display at No.10 St. James Square

 

A close-up of the original old Snuffer – in St.James Square

 

Me – in St. James Square itself

 

Little James Street – where an original ‘Snuffer’ fixture can be found

 

The original ‘Snuffers’ fixtures of No.28 Little James Street

 

A close-up of the ‘Snuffers’ of 28 Little James Street

 

Another close-up of the ‘Snuffers’ of 28 Little James Street

 

The infamous ‘Viaduct Tavern’ – just across the road from the Old Bailey. This famous old pub first opened in 1869 and was one of London’s most notorious Gin Palaces – possibly one of London’s roughest pubs throughout Victorian times

 

Me – neckin’ down a ‘cheeky’ one in the notorious Viaduct Tavern

 

Neckin’ down another ‘cheeky’ one in the ‘Viaduct Tavern’

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6 Comments
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6 Responses

  1. Neil says
    December 17, 2018 at 1:52 pm

    Wonderful. New to me and glad I now know about snuffers and link boys.

    Reply
  2. Avril says
    December 17, 2018 at 1:53 pm

    If I could go back in time, I would choose this period as it fascinates me. Oliver Twist and all that.

    Reply
  3. Natalie says
    December 17, 2018 at 1:53 pm

    Brilliant Geoff very interesting

    Reply
  4. Alan says
    December 17, 2018 at 1:54 pm

    Fascinating Geoff- amazing that they still exist

    Reply
  5. Carol G says
    December 17, 2018 at 1:54 pm

    Really interesting subject Geoff. I always look forward to your jaunts

    Reply
  6. Carol C says
    December 17, 2018 at 1:54 pm

    Cor blimey guvnor, strike a light

    Reply

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