Hi, Denise, The following comes from an estate contact. Way back in the heyday of the sporting estates they employed large numbers of men to maintain roads, ditches, paths, fences and walls. Anything that could be seen by the Owner had to be painted, repaired or manicured--money didn't really matter. The estate Factor decided what work had to be done and the Ground Officer was responsible for ensuring that it was. He was a sort of foreman or overseer, and was often a tradesman. He was also a local man and had to make sure that the work squads ( made up of his friends, neighbours and possibly family ) did the work. He had to tread carefully or he would be accused of being an estate "lackey". This could make him almost an outcast in the community, hence the required delicacy. Regards. Fraser MacKenzie, Sutherland. (Or should it be Southerland?).