1872. Daily News, 1 Aug., 4/1. The Guardians of Mile-End Old Town require, for their industrial schools,… a … man … as Yardsman.
1885. Law Times, LXXX. 79/2. The servant was bonâ fide employed by the defendant as yardsman and labourer.
1888. Daily News, 12 Dec., 5/4. A yardsman who saw the approaching train shouted to the guard of the Caledonian train to jump out on to the platform.
So Yardswoman.
1817. in A. J. C. Hare, The Gurneys of Earlham (1895), I. 282. I was conducted by … the newly appointed yards-woman, to the door of a ward.
1905. Daily Chron., 1 Sept., 1/6. Holborn Union…. The Guardians of the above Union require a Girls’ Yardswoman at the Schools, Mitcham, Surrey.
