Occupation: Burler

     

Elizabeth Warburton, wife, age 23, Burler

1851 UK Census: Wiltshire > Trowbridge > District 2k 

Burler or Spiler
Burling was women’s work. Any small pieces of vegetable matter (called spile) still left in the cloth were removed by hand. Women used burling irons which looked like small tweezers, to get rid of spile. Loose threads were also removed but that was generally done after fulling. By the 18th century, Master Burlers supervised the operation and paid women to do the work.
(source: http://www.trowbridgemuseum.co.uk/)