Occupation in 1871 Census: bark dresser? (General)

by JaneyH , Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Sunday, March 23, 2014, 12:04 (3899 days ago)

I'm looking at the 1871 Census records for some of my ancestors in the Forest of Dean and am trying to read the occupation given for two teenagers aged 13 and 15. It appears to read "bark dresser". Could this be correct? Their father is a joiner, but I wondered if there was a link to bark being prepared for the tanning and leather industry.

They lived at Broadoak in the hamlet of Elton (parish of Westbury-on-Severn). For anyone with online access to Census records the full citation is Class: RG10; Piece: 2604; Folio: 7; Page: 5; GSU roll: 835279 and I'm looking at William and Henry Evans at the bottom of the page.

Please don't go to any trouble researching this - it's just a query to ask if someone in the area might happen to know what it refers to.

Many thanks, Jane