Differing Responses to an Industrialising Economy - eTheses ...

the records grew to more than a score in the early eighteenth century. 189
Joseph Higgins,
who died in 1718, left tools, iron, steel, two guns, a (gun) barrel, a pistol and 418 pounds
of lead (presumably to make ammunition). He also had steel and files in Birmingham,
which underlines the link with that town, while other Alcester gunsmiths shared
surnames with known Birmingham gunsmiths. 190
In the early eighteenth century several factors enabled Alcester to play its part in
the west midlands gun trade. Alcester had skilled metal workers and was able to source
iron brought up the Severn and Avon, or perhaps from the local forges such as Forge Mill
in Redditch. 191
At the start of the century charcoal was easily accessible from nearby
woodland, and Alcester was able to export guns through Worcester and the Severn, or to
tap into Birmingham’s own trade links in the gun-trade. Settlement certificates show a
degree of mobility for gunsmiths both to and from Alcester. 192
Some of those in Alcester’s gun trade were substantial men in the town, holding
office, investing their profits in local land and lending money. Nathan Haines, (whose
tools, iron, steel, five guns, and a quantity of gunlocks and jacks were valued at £131-12-
0), was probably awaiting payment for guns, which he had supplied: debts due to him
comprised more than half of his inventory total. 193
Another gunsmith, Thomas Willis,
valued at a mere £18, may well have been an employee, for no distinction is made,
‘gunsmith’ being used as a descriptor for masters and their men. 194
Only one
189 It is likely that many more apprentices and employees were present, but not recorded.
190 For example, Harper, Jordan and Howel. They may have been relatives, or, alternatively, Alcester’s
guns may have been registered as if made in Birmingham.
191 Some specialist iron and steel may have been imported up the Severn from Sweden and Russia, as
described by C. Evans, et al, ‘Baltic iron and the British iron industry in the eighteenth century’, Econ.
Hist. Rev., 55, (2002).
192 WaRO, DR360/80, Alcester settlements. Places include Stratford and Rowley Regis.
193 WoRO, probate of Nathan Haines, Alcester, gunsmith, 1728, £354-17-10.
194 WoRO, Bx1B3/76/788(iii)/76, (Greenbank collection) probate of Thomas Willis, Alcester, gunsmith,
1739.
110