Ash burner

The job of an ash burner (

As forests increasingly dwindled and when, in the 12th century the cutting and burning of wood was limited or banned, ash burners collected dead wood from the forests as well as fireplace ash from homes.

Towards the end of the 19th century the occupation of ash burner declined with the increasing importance of

These

gabled roof

. In the three walls opposite the entrance were small windows.

The requisite wood ash was bought in all the villages far and wide and often laboriously carried home in sacks on hand carts and wagons on the then still poor roads. In the hut the ashes were first stored cold in grey wicker baskets, lined with linen, and stood on top of leaching vats. Water was poured over the ashes and they were thoroughly soaked until they were completely leached.

The

mother liquour

was then boiled on the stove, until only the valuable, white potash was left. This was sold for a high price to the glassworks.

— Lukas Grünenwald, 1875

References