Differing Responses to an Industrialising Economy - eTheses ...

Mill joined Bidford’s Grange Mill in paper production shortly after 1800. 103
These mills
only employed a handful of people and were apparently risky concerns. One papermerchant
went bankrupt and his partners at Bidford had run up huge debts, but managed
to keep the business going. 104
Harvington mill supplied paper for papier-mache trays
made at Welford. 105
In 1841 Richard Newman, described as a ragman, presumably
collected rags for use in these local paper-mills. 106
Over the two centuries tailors were at work in most of the parishes, even in small
settlements like Dorsington. Not many tailors left probate, but their few surviving
inventories indicate that, although some engaged in agriculture to supplement their
income, they lived very modestly. The inventory of John Rice indicates that almost half
of his estate comprised his stock of fustians, serges, ‘tickers’, ‘stuffes’, silk, flannel,
buttons and thread. 107 In the 1760s Bidford also had at least one stay-maker. 108 Baptism
data suggests that tailors were on the increase in the 1830s; in the 1841 census 1.7% of
adult males were tailors. 109
Although many females made clothes, few were distinguished with the term
‘tailor’. However, Margaret Gould of Welford, a dressmaker in 1841, was termed a
‘tailoress’ in 1851. 110
More usual descriptions of females involved in clothing
103 Various documents show papermakers in Harvington from 1803 to 1827. Bidford’s Grange Mill
apparently lasted into the 1860s. For example, WoRO, Harvington baptisms 1825 and WaRO, Bidford
1861 census.
104 Birmingham Library, MS3069/Acc1906-002/192563 to 192568. Phillips went bankrupt while the
Wrighton brothers continued the business.
105 Information from Welford Local History Society.
106 WaRO, Bidford (Broom) 1841 census.
107 WoRO, probate of John Rice, Bidford, tailor, 1729, £59-0-0. (One Bidford tailor was probably also a
weaver. WoRO, probate of Thomas Harbidge, Bidford, yeoman, 1700, mentions Robeert Baldwyn,
Bidford, weaver, and probate of John Slater, Bidford, (no occupation given), 1713, mentions Robert
Balwin, Bidford, weaver.)
108 WoRO, marriage licence of Richard Scrivin, Bidford, staymaker, Dec. 1761. He doubled as a victualler.
109 Tables 5.6 and 5.8.
110 WaRO, Welford 1841 and 1851 census. There was also another ‘tailoress’ in Welford in 1851. Also a
girl was apprenticed to a tailor in Pebworth in 1816. (WoRO, BA3586 (v), Feckenham apprentice records.)
166