Tron-men explained

The tron-men (or tronmen) of Edinburgh were an organization of chimney-sweepers named after the Tron, a weighing-beam which was also used as a pillory, that stood outside the Tron Kirk.

They effectively acted as a trade guild or trade union for chimney-sweeping in Edinburgh. Their activities are described in Volume II of Kay's Edinburgh Portraits.[1] They are also depicted in a drawing by David Allen,[2] and mentioned in an 1811 regulation made by Edinburgh Town Council.[3]

The authors of Kay's Edinburgh Portraits describe the tron-men's appearance thus: "They wore flat bonnetsa coat peculiarly formedand knee-breeches and buckleswith a short apron, A laddera besomwith a coil of ropes and a ball, completed their equipment."

The name "trone-men" was in use as early as 1705, in the work Observator; or, A dialogue between a country-man, & a landwart school-master. The tron-men are also referred to in Maitland's The History of Edinburgh, published in 1753.[4]

In 1795, one of their members was expelled for assisting in a hanging.[5] They were effectively disbanded by 1811.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Paterson, James . Kay's Edinburgh Portraits: A Series of Anecdotal Biographies Chiefly of Scotchmen . 1885 . Hamilton, Adams . 130 . en.
  2. Web site: 2019-11-13 . The Mystery of the Artist(s) . 2023-11-10 . Parliament Square, Edinburgh . en-GB.
  3. Book: Council, Edinburgh (Scotland) Town . Regulations for the Tronmen, Chimney-sweepers, and Firemen of Edinburgh . 1811 . The Council . en.
  4. Web site: Dictionaries of the Scots Language:: SND :: tron . 2023-11-10.
  5. Web site: Kay's Edinburgh Portraits . 2023-11-10 . electricscotland.com.