"Charlie the knocker-up from Salford" Knocker-up men attached wires to the end of a long pole and there job was to rattle the pole against the upstairs window pane to awaken the occupants ready for work in the morning. It was a common practice in working-class communities across England's north west in a time before everyone had alarm clocks to ensure people got to work in the mills and factories on time. This continued according to the caption until around 1964.