ISLE-OF-WIGHT-L Archives

From: Kelvin Kean <>
Subject: Ornamental Poulterer
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 99 15:30:57 -0500

A poulterer is technically either a dealer in fowl, any and all kinds, or
a grower of fowl. Thus an "ornamental poulterer would be someone who
grows ornamental fowl like pheasants, peafowl, bantam chickens, and,
perhaps, more exotic birds. Ornamental in this case might well have
nothing to do with birds for the dinner table but birds to ornament one's
estate. During the 19th century the Isle of Wight and the counties along
the south coast of England probably had more than their share of estates
on which many ornamental fowl strutted, and their presence probably
provided gainful employment for more than few caretakers.

Kelvin Kean
Elverson, Pennsylvania

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• Ornamental Poulterer by Kelvin Kean <>