You are in [Themes] [Trades & Occupations] [Trades in 19th Century Hungerford]
1851 Census:
The 1851 Census (links to copies and transcripts below) is the earliest to give detailed information on trades and occupations, both of men and women. These data apply to the Hungerford Census district (including Kintbury and Lambourne):
For men, the commonest occupations were:
- Agricultural Labourer ................................... 2600 (48.2% of all males aged 20 yrs+)
- Farmer ................................................................. 256
- Labourer ............................................................. 213
- Carpenter, joiner .............................................. 165
- Shoemaker ................................................... ..... 148
- Farm servant (in-door) ................................... 140
- Bricklayer ............................................................. 95
- Blacksmith ........................................................... 95
- Woodman ............................................................ 91
- Shepherd ............................................................ 78
- Gardener ............................................................. 68
- Domestic Servant (general) ......................... 62
- Tailor .................................................................. 54
- Miller .................................................................... 52
- Grocer .................................................................. 48
- Pauper of no stated occupation ................. 44
- Farmer, grazier's son, g-ndson, brother, nephew 40
- Sawyer ................................................................. 40
- Baker .................................................................... 37
- Chelsea Pensioner ............................................ 36
- Groom, horsekeeper, jockey ........................ 36
- Innkeeper ........................................................... 35
- Clergyman ........................................................... 34
- Butcher ................................................................ 31
There are also records of Brickmaker, Maltster, Draper, Gamekeeper, Carman & Carrier, Saddler, Wheelwright, Licensed Victualler, Schoolmaster, Basket-maker, Boat and Bargeman, Shopkeeper, Tanner, Cooper, Post office, Police, Surgeon, Thatcher, Brewer,, Coal merchant,Watchmaker, Coachmaker, Mason or Pavier, Coachman, Chairmaker, Drover, Fellmonger,Glover, Cabinet maker, Turner, Whitesmith, Ropemaker, as well as one "Lunatic of no stated occupation".
For women, the commonest occupations were:
- Wife (of no specified occupation) ................. 2438 (45.2% of all females aged 20 yrs+)
- Agricultural Laboure r........................................... 621
- Daughter, grand-daughter, sister, niece ....... 334
- Widow (of no specified occupation) ............... 266
- Domestic Servant (General) ................................. 201
- Farmer's, Grazier's Wife ....................................... 154
- Farm Servant (in-door) ......................................... 134
- Milliner .......................................................................... 97
- Washerwoman, Mangier, Laundry-keeper ...... 86
- Farmer's, Grazier's Dtr, grand-dtr, sister, niece ... 86
- Annuitant ..................................................................... 82
- Shoemaker's wife ..................................................... 79
- Other Worker in Flax, Cotton ............................... 61
- Seamstress .................................................................. 48
- Person of no stated occupation living on alms ..... 47
- Charwoman ................................................................. 45
- Persons of no stated occupations or conditions ... 45
- Pauper of no stated occupation ........................... 44
- Schoolmistress ............................................................ 42
- Domestic Servant (Housekeeper) ........................ 40
- Dependent on Relatives .......................................... 32
- Domestic Servant (Housemaid) ........................... 31
- Domestic Servant (Cook) ....................................... 30
There are also records of Nurse (27), Straw Hat & Bonnet Maker, Shoemaker, Midwife, Furrier, Baker, Staymaker, Button maker, Brush & Broom maker, Confectioner, and even one Blacksmith!
John Allen wrote a short paper on Trade and Industry in Hungerford 1830-1899:
By 1830 there were three breweries at Hungerford. Tanning at one time was a flourishing Berkshire industry, largely due to natural supply of oak trees. At Hungerford the tanning business was of sufficient importance for the Hocktide Court to appoint "searchers and seekers" annually. The "searchers and seekers" were official snoops whose duty it was to see that none but properly 'tanned leather appeared for sale.
By 1840 The Kennet & Avon Canal was well established and conveying a variety of merchandise, - Coal, Peat, Stone, Timber and other building materials.
At this time country folk relied on carriers to transport their weekly shopping, and there were many carriers at Hungerford providing services, to such places as Marlborough, Lavington, and Trowbridge, Swindon, Wantage, Newbury, Reading, and Maidenhead.
Hungerford in 1842 had a great variety oftraders:- Butchers, Thos. Hutchins Joseph and Francis Cundell, and Charles Osmond, Carpenters- Wm. Barnes, George Martin, George Swanswick and George Tubb, Coopers:- Joseph Barnes and George Quinn, one Miller- James Langford, Tailers:- Thos. Angel, John Foster, Samuel Marchant, and Sylvanas White, Beer Retailers: James Ayliffe, Thos. Polley, and Wm. Smith.
There was one Bookseller/Stationer and Printer, Wm. Franklin, two Saddle and Harness makers: Wm. and James Alexander, one Gunsmith:- Edward Woodham, two Wheelrights:- Fred and George Tubb, and there was one Cheese Factory in Bridge Street owned by Joseph Rumble, and at this time there were many Stage Coaches coming through Hungerford.
With construction of the Great Western Railway in 1846, and in December 1847 Hungerford was connected by rail to Newbury, Reading, and London, there was a large reduction of traffic carried on the Kennet and Avon Canal also a reduction in carriers, although they were still required to serve the villages such as Ramsbury, Aldboume, and Froxfield.
The Registration of the Gas Co was in August 1845 and the Gas Works was built by December 1847 and became operational in 1848.
In 1883 there were many other traders in the town :- J. Adnams, Corn Merchants, T.Alexander, Grocer, R. Barnard, Fishmonger, E. Buxey, Carrier to Newbury and Marlborough, Cottrell & Co. Eddington Iron Works, A.W.Neate, Auctioneer and Estate Agent, Charnham Street.
Mr. Thomas the Great Western Railway Station Master, C.Osmond the Post Master, and H. Woodham Watchmaker.
In 1891 the Market Day was Wednesday and established in the Corn Exchange, and there were two Coal Merchants J.Alexander & Sons, and Henry John Beard and many more commercial premises in the town.
Closing the Shops:
The HHA Archives holds copies of two posters relating to the closure of shops for extra holidays:
- Monday 24 Dec 1855 for an "Additional Holiday"
- Thursday 29 May 1856 to celebrate the end of the Crimean War.
See also:
- Trades & Occupations in 16th Century Hungerford
- Trades & Occupations in 17th Century Hungerford
- Trades & Occupations in 18th Century Hungerford
- Trades & Occupations in 19th Century Hungerford
- Trade & Industry in 20th Century Hungeford
- Trades and Occupations in Elizabethan Hungerford
- 1851 Census - Occupation of the People (photocopy of Hungerford and other towns)
- 1851 Census - Occupation of the People - All Males (Transcription)
- 1851 Census - Occupation of the People - Males (Transcription, sorted by frequency)
- 1851 Census - Occupation of the People - All Females (Transcription)
- 1851 Census - Occupation of the People - Females (Transcription, sorted by frequency)
The Canal Wharf, 2011