The Bone-Grubber

Engraved illustration based on a photograph showing a bone grubber, who searched the streets for rags, bones and waste metal that could be sold on to rags shops and marine stores. The man wears a peaked cap, short jacket and military-style trousers. Over his shoulder is slung a sack, and another sack hangs from his waist. He is bending over a heap of rubbish that includes bones, rags and an old cooking pot. Bone grubbers and other street scavengers frequented the area between the London and St. Katharine's Docks and Rosemary Lane. Here muddy channels and huge dust heaps made it one of the filthiest locations in the city. The illustration appeared in Henry Mayhew's 'London Labour and the London Poor: The condition of those that will work, cannot work, and will not work', Vol. 1., 'London Street-Folk', first published in 1861. No. 31 page 477.