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Differing Responses to an Industrialising Economy - eTheses ...

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evidence right through <strong>to</strong> Period D albeit in reduced numbers, while one bone-collec<strong>to</strong>r is<br />

recorded in 1820. 156<br />

Wood <strong>an</strong>d charcoal<br />

References <strong>to</strong> charcoal-burners in Alcester are completely lacking. M<strong>an</strong>y<br />

inven<strong>to</strong>ries mention ‘coals’, but it is unclear whether this me<strong>an</strong>s charcoal or ‘pit-coal’.<br />

Maybe the <strong>to</strong>wnsfolk used charcoal from local parishes <strong>an</strong>d coal imported by barge <strong>an</strong>d<br />

cart from the Black Country or the Forest of De<strong>an</strong>.<br />

Although carpenters <strong>an</strong>d other woodworkers were present in Alcester, records<br />

suggest that they were always few in number. Perhaps, as suggested above for the<br />

building trade, the <strong>to</strong>wn was served by such workers from the nearby villages where they<br />

seem relatively numerous. 157<br />

Table 4.2 suggests a relatively stable core of carpenters<br />

over time with <strong>an</strong> increase in Period D. By contrast Table 4.6 suggests that carpenters<br />

formed a decreasing share of the workforce during Period D. Tables 4.2 <strong>an</strong>d 4.4 both<br />

suggest a decrease in the percentage for other woodworkers after 1750.<br />

Among the <strong>to</strong>wn’s carpenters <strong>an</strong>d joiners, some individuals were described as<br />

both, while others specialised in larger work (carpenters) or smaller work (joiners).<br />

William Roberts made (or s<strong>to</strong>cked) all m<strong>an</strong>ner of wooden goods, including wooden<br />

utensils, chairs, birch-brooms <strong>an</strong>d basketwork. 158<br />

In Period C carpenter Isaac Green<br />

served as Alcester’s high bailiff <strong>an</strong>d owned at least two properties, while his son, John,<br />

156 WaRO, CR1596/85/12. It is not known <strong>to</strong> whom he supplied bones.<br />

157 Villages in Zones C <strong>an</strong>d D, such as Arrow, Feckenham, Cough<strong>to</strong>n <strong>an</strong>d Haselor.<br />

158 WoRO, probate of William Roberts, Alcester, joiner, 1749, £65-7-5. There were several members of this<br />

family in the carpentry <strong>an</strong>d joinery trade over generations. He also leased a crabmill, suggesting that he<br />

dabbled in the m<strong>an</strong>ufacture of verjuice, used <strong>to</strong> treat <strong>an</strong>imals. Several inven<strong>to</strong>ries list verjuice which may<br />

also have been used for cooking/drinking. WoRO, probate of Elisha Wright, Alcester, wheelwright, 1719,<br />

£51-9-0, shows that he also had a crabmill.<br />

104

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