Mary Smith: “Knocker-Upper”

Mary Smith, famously known as a “knocker-upper,” was a significant figure in London’s East End during the 1930s.

Her job was to wake workers early in the morning so they would not be late for their shifts, a critical service at a time when alarm clocks were neither affordable nor reliable for everyone.

Mary Smith used a pea shooter to fire dried peas at the windows of her clients to wake them up. This method was her unique approach to the job, which was typically done with a stick or other means to tap on windows or doors.

She earned around sixpence a week for her services, which was standard for knocker-uppers at the time.

Mary Smith operated in East London, with her activities well-documented around the 1930s. Her work was part of a broader profession that emerged during the Industrial Revolution and continued until affordable alarm clocks became common.

The profession of knocker-uppers highlights the societal changes brought by the Industrial Revolution where strict work schedules became the norm, necessitating reliable methods for people to wake up on time.

Mary Smith became somewhat of a local legend, not just for her job but for her character. She’s remembered not only for her pea-shooting method but also for her interactions with her community, offering a glimpse into daily life in industrial Britain.

Her story has been referenced in various forms of media and literature, showcasing interest in this quaint occupation that once played a crucial role in urban life.

Mary Smith’s life as a knocker-upper provides a fascinating look into historical occupational necessities and the ingenuity of individuals like her in adapting to the needs of their time. Her story, preserved through photography and anecdotes, offers a window into a bygone era’s morning routine.

Anecdote:

But who woke the knocker uppers? A tongue-twister from the time tackled this conundrum:

We had a knocker-up, and our knocker-up had a knocker-up

And our knocker-up’s knocker-up didn’t knock our knocker up

So our knocker-up didn’t knock us up

‘Cos he’s not up.

“The knocker uppers were night owls and slept during the day instead, waking at about four in the afternoon,” – author Richard Jones.

I guess that the Knocker-Uppers of their day did a pretty good job at helping folks to wake up in time to make it to work.

I’ve got a feeling that if I were living then back in the day that this is what my windows would have looked like on account of my liking to sleep in.