25.12.2013 Views

Differing Responses to an Industrialising Economy - eTheses ...

Differing Responses to an Industrialising Economy - eTheses ...

Differing Responses to an Industrialising Economy - eTheses ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

local market was sufficient <strong>to</strong> make the import of raw materials worthwhile, as long as<br />

their local competi<strong>to</strong>rs were few. In the 1780s George Wedgeberrow, yeom<strong>an</strong> <strong>an</strong>d<br />

brazier, lived in the remote hamlet of Shell. 157<br />

It is difficult <strong>to</strong> imagine m<strong>an</strong>y cus<strong>to</strong>mers<br />

coming <strong>to</strong> him. Perhaps he travelled the area offering his services as a tinker. In Period<br />

D a travelling brazier appears in Inkberrow baptisms, while As<strong>to</strong>n C<strong>an</strong>tlow was home <strong>to</strong><br />

a gunsmith, a nailer, <strong>an</strong> engineer <strong>an</strong>d a h<strong>an</strong>dful of machine-makers. 158<br />

Tr<strong>an</strong>sport<br />

During the Res<strong>to</strong>ration period no occupations specific <strong>to</strong> tr<strong>an</strong>sport are recorded<br />

for this zone. However, import<strong>an</strong>t routes existed in this sub-district. For example, the<br />

London <strong>to</strong> Bridgnorth coach route traversed the parish of As<strong>to</strong>n C<strong>an</strong>tlow, which also<br />

boasted Salter’s L<strong>an</strong>e, (the route taken by those selling salt from Droitwich), <strong>an</strong>d Port<br />

L<strong>an</strong>e, (<strong>an</strong> <strong>an</strong>cient road <strong>to</strong> nearby markets). 159<br />

M<strong>an</strong>or court <strong>an</strong>d quarter sessions records<br />

reflect the import<strong>an</strong>ce of such routes <strong>to</strong> farmers <strong>an</strong>d tradesmen <strong>an</strong>xious <strong>to</strong> reach local<br />

<strong>to</strong>wns. 160<br />

Flooded, impassable <strong>an</strong>d d<strong>an</strong>gerous roads must have continually put a brake<br />

on the commercial activity of individual tradesmen <strong>an</strong>d on the exp<strong>an</strong>sion of trade in<br />

general.<br />

In Period B the western part of this zone enjoyed the benefit of improved roads<br />

around Worcester <strong>an</strong>d Evesham, while, in the east, after 1725 the new turnpike from<br />

Birmingham <strong>to</strong> Stratford passed through As<strong>to</strong>n C<strong>an</strong>tlow parish. For the most part the<br />

157 WoRO, marriage licence of George Wedgeberrow, Shell, brazier <strong>an</strong>d yeom<strong>an</strong>, Sept 1781.<br />

158 WoRO, Inkberrow baptisms 1831 <strong>an</strong>d WaRO, As<strong>to</strong>n C<strong>an</strong>tlow 1841 census.<br />

159 VCH Warwickshire, iii, p. 33.<br />

160 For example, Johnson, Warwick County Records, 9, pp. 158, 201, <strong>an</strong>d WoRO, QS234/49, Easter 1715,<br />

QS239/31, Midsummer 1716, QS195/45, Epiph<strong>an</strong>y 1722/3 <strong>an</strong>d QS280/61,62, Epiph<strong>an</strong>y 1726/7.<br />

225

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!