Differing Responses to an Industrialising Economy - eTheses ...

apparently increased through the study period. 251
Although Alcester had two mills, the
bakers also utilised flour produced in the mills of surrounding parishes. 252
Millers also
doubled as flour-dealers, and in 1744 William Sands was described as an oatmealman. 253
The miller, Edward Crow, also made malt, again underlining the interconnections of
those dealing in grains of various sorts. 254
In common with nearby Stratford, Alcester boasted a plethora of maltsters, who,
like the tanners, needed a certain amount of capital and space to carry out the malting
process. Townsfolk with suitable premises for a couching floor and kiln made malt, often
combining malting with totally unrelated jobs. 255
Malting was capital-intensive but not
labour-intensive, allowing maltsters time to pursue other interests. Sometimes such
people are described as maltsters, but are often referred to by their other occupations. 256
Although maltsters were of necessity men of capital, Thomas Laugher owed money to
many townsmen for various services and also to ‘the king for malt tax’. We gain a rare
glimpse of lowly servants as Laugher’s probate indicates that he owed his man for one
251 In probate we find: Period A: 6 bakers, Period B: 3, Period C 2 and Period D: 6. UBD 1792: 5, Pigot
1835: 9. WaRO, Alcester 1841 census lists 12 male and one female baker.
252 Peter Allen, an Alcester baker, was also associated with Hoo Mill in Haselor parish. (For example in
Pigot 1828.) Millers in Alcester’s probate: Period A: 0, Period B: 1, Period C: 0 and Period D: 2. UBD
1792: 1 and Pigot 1835: 2. WaRO, Alcester 1841 census lists four millers.
253 WoRO, marriage licence of William Sands, Alcester, oatmealman, March 1743/4. It is not known
whether he processed oatmeal or merely sold it; perhaps it was mainly fodder for horses.
254 WoRO, probate of Edward Crow, Alcester, miller, 1706, £159-14-0, including barley, malt and a malt
kiln.
255 Tradesmen of many occupations, (such as glazing, carpentry, shoemaking and gloving), have malt and
malting equipment amongst their assets.
256 Maltsters with dual occupations in probate documents include William Haines and Abraham Clark.
WoRO, probate of William Haines, Alcester, maltster/cordwainer, 1730, £84-1-0, and of Abraham Clark,
Alcester, maltster/skinner, £259-10-6. See also John Willis, blacksmith, mentioned above in the Metal
section.
121