Genealogy Chat

Thanks Helen very interesting, better to be ag lab in Shropshire than Gloucestershire. Cherry

Morning Helen, a big thankyou and a Happy New Year to you :)

Sue (I remember you from Gaynor's do) The tied cottage system was deeply resented and there was a long campaign to abolish it. People were regularly evicted. The book gives an example of a tenant's agreement dated about 1908 in Norfolk: "I, the undersigned - agree to give the cottage up held by me, with all its apartments [!!!] to the landlord or his agent, at a week's notice. "I also agree, on quitting my cottage, not to damage the property in any way. I fthe copper, oven, stoves, etc are my property, I undertake not to remove them without first offering them for sale to the landlord or his agent. "I undertake not to take in any lodger without first obtaining the consent of the landlord or his agent. "I promise not to harbour any of my daughters who may have committed a breach of morality, nor yet any of my sons who may have broken any of the game laws. "I promise not to receive into my home any members of my family, with their wives and their families, without first obtaining the consent of the landlord or his agent. "I promise to act as game watch on the estate when called upon to do so". nell

Thanks Nell. Its incredible that wages went DOWN between 1872 and 1898! Beth :)

Thanks for Devon listing, Nell. They lived in tied cottages, I wonder if they had to pay rent, and if so, how much. It really gives you an insight as to what it was like doesn't it. Sue

Beth Northants 1850 9s. 1872 13s.8d 1898 12s. 1910 13s.9d 1914 not avail. 1919 37s.6d 1924/38 not available 1937 90s. nell

Hi Nell What was the situation in Northants? Some of my rellies went north to Teesside in the 1870s, presumably to earn a decent wage. Beth :)

Margaret Lancs: 1850 13s. 6d (one of the highest) 1872 15s.7d 1898 19s. 1910 18s.10d 1914 22s.3d 1919 39s.6d 1924/38 no figures available 1947 90s. The pattern seems to be that wages went up a bit between 1840 -98, and then shot up 1919. After the 1924 Agricultural Wages Act they all went up a bit more and then everyone had a fixed wage of 90s. in 1947. If I could wade through the rather dreary prose I could probably find more info, but it seems to consist of long lists of union committee members and rather a lot of romantic prose about "oppressed workers" - I am sure they were oppressed, but no more than any other members of the working class at the time, I imagine. nell

nell, thanks for that.

Lucia Bedford 1850 9s. 1872 12s. 1898 12s. 6d 1910 13s. 6d. 1914 not available 1919 36s. 6d 1924 27s. 1928 29s. 1938 34s. 1927 90s. nell

Thanks very much for that Pete

***Dee*** Staffordshire 1840 9s.6d 1872 14s.6d 1898 15s. 1910 15s.11d 1914 not available 1919 40s. 1924 ) not 1938 )available 1947 90s. nell

Christine Warwickshire 1850 8s.6d [some time after this my own Warwickshire-born great-grandfather came to London to work] 1872 15s. 1898 14s. 1910 14s.4d 1914 not available 1919 36s. 6d 1924 30s. 1938 33s. 1947 90s. nell

Peter Berkshire wages 1850 were 7s 6d which were amongst the lowest at that time. Next figures given are 1972 when they were 14s. I don't know why your relatives moved to London, apart from better wages. Perhaps there were bad harvests at that time? nell

Ann Glos. figures given in reply to Cherry. Hope this answers your query. Let me know if not. nell

Denise Nothing for Flintshire, only Monmouth. nell

Christine Cambridge 1850 no figures 1872 no figures 1898 12s. 1910 12s. 8d 1914 14s. 6d 1919 36s.6d 1924 2s (rose to 30s. after Ag Wages Act, for 48 hour week) 1938 35s 1947 90s. nell

Hi Nell, What would the wages have been for Bedfordshire? Thanks Lucia

Cherry Gloucestershire 1850 7s. 1872 14s. 1898 12s.6d 1910 12s. 11d 1913 14s.7d 1919 36s.6d 1924 no figures available 1938 34s. 1947 90s. Shrops. 1850 no figures available 1872 14s. 3d 1898 14s.0d 1910 14s. 8d 1914 15s. 9d 1919 37s.0d 1924 30s. 0d (after Ag Wages Act rose to 31s.6d .) 1938 35s.0d 1947 90s. nell

hi nell, i am interested in warwick 1850 onwards---thanks chris.