Differing Responses to an Industrialising Economy - eTheses ...

Although the numbers involved in transport were always low, they were
nevertheless important to the local economy. 156
By the 1770s Welford enjoyed a
carrying service provided by Sandford and Boyce, who carried agricultural produce to
Birmingham each week returning with coal and other provisions. 157
As turnpike tolls
became more widespread it became more cost-effective for people to make use of their
local carriers rather than paying the tolls themselves on some small errand. However,
Pebworth folk claimed the right to travel toll-free throughout the kingdom. 158
The transport infrastructure developed further during Period D. Roads continued
to be turnpiked and bridges improved. 159
As well as the many drivers of farm-carts and
farm-wagons the roads were frequented by common carriers based in larger villages such
as Bidford, and increasingly in smaller villages too. 160
Women were also engaged in this
trade as carriers or letter-carriers. 161
The Bidford ‘waggoner’, Tobias Harward, may have
hauled heavier goods, such as stone and lime on his own account. 162
As well as
156 Table 5.6 shows that in baptisms 1813-1840 only 0.5% of fathers worked in the transport sector. Table
5.8 (1841 census) has a figure of 0.6% for adult males and 0.5% of adult females in this sector.
157 L. Fox, ed., The Correspondence of the Rev. Joseph Greene, Parson, Schoolmaster and Antiquary,
1712-1790, (London, Dugdale Soc./Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1965), pp. 131-2. However, when
Boyce’s wife received a large legacy in 1780, they suspended their carrying service for three weeks.
158 Rudder, A New History of Gloucestershire, p. 599. This right was because of their manor’s connection
to the Duchy of Lancaster. Whether distant toll-gatekeepers accepted their claim is a matter of some doubt.
159 For example, Richardson, The Book of Redditch, p. 76, concerning the Pershore Turnpike. Berrow’s
Worcester Journal 16 July 1807, concerning repair of Salford Bridge. Bidford’s roadmakers were
mentioned above in the extractive and building section. See also Appendices 15 and 16.
160 WoRO, Cleeve Prior 1851 census also lists a miller’s wagoner.
161 For example, WoRO, BA9202/8, Pebworth overseers of the poor accounts 1818, record payment of 1s.
to Jane Churchley ‘for carrying things’, also Pigot’s Warwickshire Directory 1830, 1841 and PO
Warwickshire Directory 1845 list Churchley (alias Chesley) as carrier Pebworth to Stratford. WaRO,
Bidford 1851 census records Susannah Cox, letter-carrier.
162 GlosRO, probate of Mary Harward, Pebworth, spinster, 1799. Amongst other items he may have
transported stone for family members who were stonemasons. Alternatively, the term ‘waggoner’ could
signify merely that he was a farm employee.
175