Tooke, A History of Prices and of the State of the Circulation from 1793 to 1837, 1838, vol. 2, p. 390 We have also the prices at different dates, for the purchase of 4 pounds of wheat in the market. This is different from the unit used in the rest of this investigation, which is theSigue leyendo «11.3. Wheat Prices»
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11.2. Incomes
The wage level for the agricultural workers was defined by the “weekly winter wage” (for 41 weeks per year) in shillings per week. But this was only a standard figure. The earnings were also made up from the higher hay wage (6 weeks), the harvest wage (double amount for 5 weeks), piece-work (especially manual threshing), workSigue leyendo «11.2. Incomes»
11.1. External Factors
The importance of this chapter and the following chapter is to construct a quantitative description of the living standards in agriculture from 1770 to 1860, and particularly in the last years of the period. This should help us to understand the effect of the Industrial Revolution on this section of the population. The three importantSigue leyendo «11.1. External Factors»
Chapter 11. Wages and Living Conditions of Agricultural Labourers 1770-1815
11.1. External Factors https://history.pictures/2020/02/16/11-1-external-factors/ 11.2. Incomes https://history.pictures/2020/02/18/11-2-incomes/ 11.3. Wheat Prices https://history.pictures/2020/02/20/11-3-wheat-prices 11.4. Purchasing Power of the Wages https://history.pictures/2020/02/20/11-4-purchasing-power-of-the-wages/ 11.5. Price Increases in 1795 and 1800 and Reactions https://history.pictures/2020/02/20/11-5-price-increases-in-1795-and-1800-and-reactions/ 11.6. Absolute Figures as to the Standard of Living https://history.pictures/2020/02/20/11-6-absolute-figures-as-to-the-standard-of-living/ 11.7. Jonas Hanway (1767) and Arthur Young (1771) https://history.pictures/2020/02/20/11-7-jonas-hanway-1767-and-arthur-young-1771/ 11.8. David Davies (1787) https://history.pictures/2020/02/21/11-8-david-davies-1787/ 11.9. Sir FrederickSigue leyendo «Chapter 11. Wages and Living Conditions of Agricultural Labourers 1770-1815»
10.9. Co-Operative Societies
In 1844, 28 hand-loom weavers in Rochdale, who had only intermittent employment, decided to set up a co-operative shop, where there would be no profit to third parties. They gave it the legal name of “The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers”. They needed 3 months to save up one Pound each, to subscribe the capital,Sigue leyendo «10.9. Co-Operative Societies»
10.8. Truck Shops, Tommy Shops, and Chandler’s Shops
The poor in the countryside were often exploited as to the prices that they paid for their wheat, or the other articles in the small shops in the village. David Davies reports that the wheat passed through several transactions until it arrived in the peasant’s cottage: “ ….. The great farmer deals in wholesale waySigue leyendo «10.8. Truck Shops, Tommy Shops, and Chandler’s Shops»
10.7. Efficiency and Price Reductions
We will see in other sections, that the prices for food and other articles fell from 1825 to 1860. This was not due to a general decrement in prices, or from government policies, but because the costs of production went down. This was demonstrably due to the Industrial Revolution. We have here an “industrializing dividend”,Sigue leyendo «10.7. Efficiency and Price Reductions»
10.6. Improvements which were not Increases in Monetary Earnings
These were gas lighting, postage stamps, transport by rail, and easier working conditions. The most obvious improvement for the people from the Industrial Revolution was gas lighting in the streets, the interior of public buildings, and in the factories. Gas lighting was first implemented in streets in London in 1810, and in the majority ofSigue leyendo «10.6. Improvements which were not Increases in Monetary Earnings»
10.5. Prostitutes
The male workers also had the time, energy, and money to frequent prostitutes. Quantitative and descriptive data come from a book written by a Mr. William Logan, a “City Missionary”, i.e. a Christian social worker, in his book “An Exposure from Personal Observation of Female Prostitution in London, Leeds and Rochdale and especially in the CitySigue leyendo «10.5. Prostitutes»
10.4. Drunkenness
The lower classes of the workers in Manchester found time and money enough, to go to drinking saloons, beer-shops and “dram-shops” (gin-palaces). Benjamin Love reports that in 1840, from own investigation and from a report published by an academic institution, “in all our large towns, the principal taverns and gin palaces have now attached toSigue leyendo «10.4. Drunkenness»
