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Archiver > DENMARK > 2005-08 > 1123096086


From: "Ian Westergaard" <>
Subject: Re: [DK] Occupation: murmæster
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 07:08:42 +1200
References: <1d5.414f5a8b.30222647@aol.com> <42F0E7CE.30300@mail.dk> <42F0E8A9.7060707@mail.dk>


We are talking about occupations before WW2, in the 1800's and earlier when
there were distinct divisions between the trades.

Murmester = master mason or bricklayer - he did the stonework and brickwork
though generally a bricklayer did not do stonework.
Tømmermester = master carpenter - he erected the wooden framework in half
timbered buildings and the roof framing.
Snedkermester = master joiner - he made and fitted the doors and windows.
Tækkermester = master thatcher - he put the thatch on the roof.
Skifertækkermester = master slaterer - he put slates on the roof.
Tegltækkermester = master tiler - he put tiles on the roof.
These are the principal building trades but there were others.

byggermester = master builder - he was the main contractor and employed the
other tradesmen, he probably started out in one of the principal building
trades.

In rural areas the split between trades tended to become blurred but in the
major urban centres the demarcation lines between trades were rigidly
enforced by the trade guilds.

Ian Westergaard
In Fine Cold & Frosty Central Otago
New Zealand


----- Original Message -----
From: "Rune" <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 3:54 AM
Subject: Re: [DK] Occupation: murmæster


> Rune wrote:
> > wrote:
> >
> >>According to the 1787 Thisted census, my ggggrandfather, Mads Agerholm
was a
> >>murmæster. In the 1801 census he was called a muurmester.My Gyldendals
> >>isn't much help with either of these versions of the word -- the closest
guess I
> >>come up with is "wall master".
> >>
> >>Help, please...........
> >>
> >>Kathryn Jensen
> >>
> >
> > If you look up the modern spelling it says:
> > murernester = (master) builder
> >
> > /Rune
>
> Oops, that's murermester.
>
> /Rune
>
>
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