A Fendersmith is a person employed to clean and repair the metal fenders before fireplaces in mansions, fine estates, or

castle A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...

s. The person is usually also responsible for lighting and keeping the fire contained within the

fireplace A fireplace or hearth is a structure made of brick, stone or metal designed to contain a fire. Fireplaces are used for the relaxing ambiance they create and for heating a room. Modern fireplaces vary in heat efficiency, depending on the design. ...

. Few fendersmiths exist today, but can be found in places like

Windsor Castle Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. It is strongly associated with the English and succeeding British royal family, and embodies almost a millennium of architectural history. The original cast ...

and

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It ...

. A bagpipe tune exists with the title "Salute to Willie the Royal Fendersmith". It has been said that this was "Written by P.M James Banks as a tribute to Willie, the elder brother of James and Alex Banks". This tune was composed by Pipe Major James Banks MBE. in 1993 on the tragic death of his brother Willie who was the Fendersmith at Windsor Castle, the tune was much loved by HM

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

and was played at her internment at Windsor Castle, 2022 source James Banks

References

Obsolete occupations Cleaning and maintenance occupations Windsor Castle Buckingham Palace {{job-stub