Hi David

In the 1891 Royton census, the occupations of Alfred Callister and Charles Kneale are shown as ditto marks below the “stone waller” entry of James E Callister. However, Alfred’s is the only entry which also has the word “mason” written in large letters in different handwriting. So Alfred is a mason in 1891, 1901, 1911 and at his marriage in 1894.

Am I right in thinking that, in order to become a stone mason, Alfred would have needed to have served an apprenticeship ? Would the same apply to a stone waller or a paviour ?

Jean C