A Dictionary of Occupational Terms Based on the Classification of Occupations used in the Census of Population, 1921.

ORDER XXXI.—OTHER AND UNDEFINED WORKERS

963.—Watchmen

canal wharf keeper: a watchman q.v. in charge of canal side wharves and cargo left thereon.
constable, policeman (private): a watchman q.v. usually wearing uniform; is frequently an ex-police constable on pension; sometimes specifically designated, e.g. private constable, private policeman, reservoir policeman, river policeman (water supply).
ship keeper: a watchman q.v. who lives and sleeps on board ship in dock to protect ship from intruders and generally ensure that ship's gear used in loading and unloading is not damaged; may supervise donkeyman (736).
tidesman (canal authority): a watchman q.v. in charge of lock and canal company's premises when lock keeper (741) is not on duty, i.e. when tide is out and lock not in use.
patrol (factory or works), watchman, watcher: patrols and guards, by night or day, mines, quarries, works, factories, water supplies, etc., to prevent theft, risk of fire, pollution damage or trespass; sometimes also in factories tends and stokes boiler or furnace fires, and checks time of night workers; sometimes specifically designated according to time of duty or place guarded, e.g. night watcher, day watchman, aqueduct watchman, coal spinner watchman, cotton watchman, reservoir watchman.
watchman, ship's: attends to lights, moorings, and general safety of ships, during non-working hours of crew, while vessels are afloat and undergoing repair in shipyards, harbours, docks, etc.

From: A Dictionary of Occupational Terms Based on the Classification of Occupations used in the Census of Population, 1921,
Ministry of Labour, 1927. Digitised by Peter Christian, August, 2016. This text is in the Public Domain.