BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 155
No. CCXXIV.
THE CITY T R 0 N -31 EN ;
CHPNNEY-S WEEPERS.
THE personal history of these men is almost entirely unknown ; and probably
few incidents in their humble progress through life would be found worthy of
recording. The elder of the two, DAVIDG ILCHRISTw,a s a worthy enough
person in his way ; and he is still remembered by some of the sable fraternity
of Edinburgh. He lived in the College Wynd, off the Cowgate.
At a remote period, there was only one individual of the name of Hamilton
-resident in the West Port ‘--who devoted his attention solely to the sweeping
of chimneys. He kept a number of men and boys in his employment;
but the city, notwithstanding, was very indifferently supplied. In order to
remedy this state of things-as well as to avoid the barbarous system of
“ climbing boys ” twelve men, previously porters, were appointed chimneysweepers
for the city, with an annual allowance of one guinea, and certain other
perquisites. They were called “ Tron-men,” from the circumstance of their
being stationed at the Trone,’ or public beam for weighing, which formerly
stood in front of the Tron Church.
A small wooden apartment was subsequently erected for them at the east end
of the City Guard-House, in which to deposit their apparatus ; and where the
men themselves were daily in waiting, ready to supply, in rotation, the demands
of their customers. In case of fire occurring, the duty of keeping watch at
night in the Guard-House devolved on one of their number alternately.
In the Print, the dress and apparatus of the “ City Tron-men ” are accurately
described. They wore flat bonnets--a coat peculiarly formed-and kneebreeches
and buckles-with a short apron. A ladder-a besom-with a coil
Hamilton resided a little to the west of the Vennel, and w89 known by the name of “ Sweep
The Trone appears to have been used as a pillory for the punishment of crime. In Nichoh Diary
for 1649, it is stated that “much falset and cheitting was dailie deteckit at this time by the Lords of
Sessioune ; for the whilk there was dailie hanging, skucging, nailing of lugs [ears], and Ending of
people to the TRONE, a d boring of tongues ; so that it was one fatal year for false notaries and
witnesses, as dailie experience did witness.” The wagh-house, wbich stood at the head of the West
Bow, built probably about the beginning of the seventeenth century, 85 a substitute for the Tmm,
was removed in 1822, on the King’s visit to Scotland, in order to make way for the Royal procession
to the Castle.
Jack.” He died about the end of last century.