Before the Industrial Revolution, most people belonged to the 'labouring class'; they could be divided into skilled and unskilled. With skilled people, there was little difference between the master craftsman, who owned his own business, and the journeyman, who sold his services to an employer. The unskilled worker, however, had no trade and no security. Skilled persons were paid more, but even so, were poorly paid relative to the cost of living. Wages were often paid in kind by providing food for the workers.
With the mention of food, we should remember that around 1700 AD the poor and working people lived mainly on cereals - rye, oats and barley - and on bread. The usual beverage was ale.
The Industrial Revolution, which was not an overnight event as many would think, but a gradual process occurring between 1750-1850, brought about many changes. Work which had previously been done in the home gave way to factory-style working, while hand working was progressively superseded by machine work.
Examples of this type of change in the parish were the establishing of Minkley's Brewery on Fox Road, which replaced home brewing, and the introduction of steam power for agricultural work.
Before the industrial change, there was little documentary information on the various occupations in the parish; the main ones would be concerned with agriculture, quarrying and subsequently coal mining. Each of these subjects has been allotted a separate chapter.
There were, however, occasional references in documents such as inventories and tax returns, which give an insight into occupations of the period. These included: blacksmiths, farriers, charcoal burners, doctors, herbalists, keepers, millers, servants, shoemakers, spirit merchants and stone workers.
By contrast, the ten-yearly census returns from 1841 to 1881 give a detailed picture of working life in the parish. During this period no fewer than 226 forms of employment are listed: the number of persons employed in each provide some interesting pointers to the changing industrial scene.
The rise and subsequent decline in agriculture is clearly shown, as is the construction of the railway during the 1870's and also the development of the coalfield towards the end of the century. Many well-established names in the parish are readily discernible and the variety of occupations with which they were involved, typically:
Ellis - engine driver, joiner, wheelwright, woodman
Rawson - engineer/driver, glazier, plumber, coach painter
Stubbings - blacksmith, grocer, sawyer, shoemaker, magnesia boiler
Webster - blacksmith, butcher
One of the oldest occupations - that of farrier - is still carried on today. On the road to Whitwell Common, two brothers, apprenticed in blacksmith and farrier work, have been established there since 1976. They are widely respected for the quality of their work and have won the 'All England Championship' at the Royal Show and at the Yorkshire Show. Their work embraces the shoeing of various breeds of horse including shires, hunters, eventers, competition and working horses. In addition to the main forge, they operate a mobile forge, which is in use every week.
A list of occupations for the 19th century is included at the end of this chapter. Trends and changes over the period of the five censuses are clearly shown. However as with all statistics, the numbers must be treated with discretion, since errors may occur for various reasons - illegible writing, mistakes by the enumerator and the fact that some workers had two and sometimes three occupations e.g. Thomas Rotherham in 1881 was listed in three places as 'Draper', 'Tailor' and 'Postmaster'.
Study the list and draw your own conclusions - notice how the population peaks in 1871, during the railway construction, and declines ten years later, probably as the navvies moved away. Many similar deductions can be made by evaluating occupations and numbers.
Study the list and draw your own conclusions - notice how the population peaks in 1871, during the railway construction, and declines ten years later, probably as the navvies moved away. Many similar deductions can be made by evaluating occupations and numbers.
Occupation 41 51 61 71 81
Agric. Machine cleaner 1
Ag. Lab. 100 106 180 76 27
Apprentice 9 14 3 21 5
Annuitant 3 9 5
Apothecary 1
Blacksmith 7 13 10 14 12
labourer 1
Butcher 3 7 4 10 7
servant 1
Beer dealer 1
Beer house keeper 1
Baker 1
Banker's clerk 1
Barmaid 1
Barrister 1
Boot/shoe maker 1 1
Bonnet maker 1
Boot binder 1
Brewer 2
Brick labourer 1
Brickmaker 2 4
Bricklayer 3 9 6
Builder 1 1
Builder's clerk 1
Builder's lab. 3
Butler 1 1
Carpenter 1 8 7 4
lab. 2
Cabinet maker 1
Carman 1
Casterator 1
Carrier 1
Carter 24 1 3
Charcoal burner 1 1
Charwoman 3 9
Chelsea pensioner 1
Chemist's warehouse
woman 1
Choirmaster 1
Cigar dealer 1
Civil engineer 1 2
Clerk 3 1 3
Coachman 1 1 1
Coach painter 1
Coal higler 1
Coal porter 1
Coal labourer 1
Coal miner 79
Coal mine worker 1
Collier 2 7
Colliery weighman 1
Coll. Eng. driver 1
Cook 1 1 1 1
Cordwainer 3 8 12 14 7
Cottager 4 2 1 1
Cotton spinner 1
Cow boy 1
Cowman 1
Curate 1 1
Dairymaid 12
Day boy 5 1
Totals 128 182 273 178 192
Occupation 41 51 61 71 81
Brought forward 128 182 273 178 192
Dealer in spirits 1 1
Deputy at colliery 1
Domestic servant 45 32
Draper 1 2 1 1
Dressmaker 10 15 18 22
Driver (coalmine) 1
Dyer 1
Engine cleaner 1
Engine fitter 1
Engine man driver 1
Engine driver 1 3
Engineer driver 1
Errand boy 1
Errand man 1
Excavator 3
Excise officer 2
Farmer 56 45 49 40 39
Farmer's son 22 18 10 17
wife 5 22 17
daughter 17 9 20 8
Farm lab. 44 6 4 29
Farm servant 74 12 54 33
Farm boy 1 4 7
Farm bailiff 1 2 1 2
Farm (works on a) 5
Farrier 1
Footman 1
Foreman (ag. lab) 2
Foreman (gen. lab) 2
Fireman (mag. works) 1
Female servant 53
Gamekeeper 1 3 6 5 2
Game watchman 2
Gardener 2 2 9 4 5
Garden lab. 4 3 1
Gas engineer 1
Gas fitter 1
Gas maker 1
Gas stoker 1
General dealer 1 2
General lab. 4 27
General servant 60 16 9 19
General practitioner 1
Gentleman 1
Gents' servant 1
Glazier 1 1 2
Governess 1 1 1
Greenwich pensioner 1 1
Grocer 1 4 4 5 6
assistant 1
Groom 3 9 10 5 8
Harness maker 1 2 3 1
Hawker 1 1
Higler 1 1
Horse breaker 1
Horse driver 1
Totals 252 484 450 448 491
Occupation 41 51 61 71 81
Brought forward 252 484 450 448 491
Hosier 1
House carpenter 2
Housekeeper 4 10 12 9 16
Housemaid 3 2
House servant 13 21
Independent 13 3
(from houses) 1
Inland rev. officer 1
Innkeeper 3 1 1 5
Iron moulder 1
Joiner 1 1 8 21 19
Joiners lab. 1 1 1
Labourer 3 6 108 57
Lab at magnesia works 3
Lace maker 1
Lady's maid 1 1
Land agent 3 1 1
Land surveyor 1 2 1 2
Landed proprietor 1
Laundress 2 1 2
Laundrymaid 1
Letter carrier 1
Licensed victualler 1
Machine owner 1
Maltster 2
Magnesia boiler 2
Male servant 71
Mason's labourer 1 2 22 6
Mechanic (fitter) 1
Medical assistant 1
Miller 1 5 7 4 4
Milliner 1
Miner 14
Moulder 2 1
Needlewoman 3 1
Night watchman 4 1
Nurse 1
