Unusual Jobs: Exploring 10 Vanished Professions from History

5. Link Boy: Guiding the Way in the Darkness

In an era before the introduction of gas lighting, link boys, often young boys, performed an essential role in cities after sunset. These individuals carried flaming torches made from burning pitch and tow to light the way for citizens at night. Their services were invaluable in a time when darkness posed a significant threat to personal safety. A quarter of a penny was the typical fee for a link boy’s services. Today, many houses in the UK still have link extinguishers on their exterior walls, reminiscent of an oversized candle snuffer.

September 10, 2023 | 5:07 pm