Posted by Gordon on September 29, 2007 at 22:01:02 from 81.179.9.3 user Coniston_Old_Man.
In Reply to: . . about the Beckfoot plumbers posted by Peter H on September 28, 2007 at 19:26:57:
Whilst there is a tendancy these days to consider plumbers as those skilled in water pipes and their associated components a plumber, especially in Ransome's time, actually means a worker of lead. Thus Beckfoot's plumbers could have been working on the roof, on downspouts (hoppers etc) or assisting other trades (such as glaziers) with leadwork.