The best I can offer for the "mending of olf in hambry lane" is (h)ole[s]. I am relying on a combination of an Essex dropped h and an elongated s. In the words (nearly) of the comic song "... there we was, mending these olf"! Best wishes John Cook ----- Original Message ----- From: "G Morris" <gr.morris@btinternet.com> To: <SOG-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: 13 September 2005 17:50 Subject: Help with 'Olf' please > Does anyone know what Olf means in the following context please? > > ERO ref: D/P 332/21/2 parish of Rayleigh, Ess > > Dec 30 1817 from the bill of a carpenter [Thomas WAGGSTAFF] > > to mending of olf in hambry lane [?] [?] nails and oak planck 0 - 2- 0 > > and > > February 23 to mending of olf in hambrey lane labour and oak planck 0 - 6 - 2 > > I have a feeling it is staring me in the face but I cannot work it out and I am not allowed to drive to ERO [for OED] for another two weeks, > > many thanks > Glynis > > ______________________________