Differing Responses to an Industrialising Economy - eTheses ...

Table 4.1 Male occupational structure (primary, secondary and tertiary) from probate
data in Zone A, Alcester, 1660-1858 (as % of males with known occupations)
1660-99 1700-49 1750-99 1800-58
Primary 17.5 16.4 20.2 22.5
Primary without labs. 16.3 14.7 19.1 22.5
Secondary 59.6 60.3 51.1 46.2
Tertiary 22.9 23.3 28.7 31.3
Total males with known occupations (n) 83 116 89 91
Percentages in probate suggest a market town economy, but farming activity is
under-represented in the figures, as many tradesmen also farmed, (especially in Periods A
and B), but were not referred to as yeomen or husbandmen. As to be expected, Table 4.1
suggests that Alcester has a smaller percentage involved in primary occupations and a
higher percentage in secondary and tertiary when compared with its rural hinterland. 16
This table suggests a swing back towards the primary sector in Period C. 17
The
secondary sector remains the largest of the three throughout, but declines comparatively
after 1750. Tertiary grows steadily throughout the study period. 18
16 See Chapters 5, 6 and 7 for information on the other zones and Chapter 8 for a comparison of all zones.
17 This is discussed below in the agriculture section. The periods referred to in discussion of the data, (as
explained in Chapter 2), are as follows: Period A: 1660-1699, Period B: 1700-1749; Period C: 1750-1799
and Period D: 1800-1840.
18 For comparison with other zones see Appendix 26.
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