Documents. 



IX. 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE PRICES OF LABOUR ABOUT 1727, 

 FROM EDWARD LAURENCE'S < DUTY AND OFFICE OF 

 A LAND STEWARD.' (Second edition, pp. 207-218.) 



A particular Account of the Prices of the several artificers' works which 

 relate to Ordinary Buildings, and the Repairs of Farm Houses, Mills, 

 etc. Also, the prices of the several sorts of works relating to Husbandry, 

 computed according to Labourers' wages in most parts of the North, 

 at twelve pence a day in Summer, and nine pence in the Winter. 



N.B. As Labourers' wages are something more in the South of 

 England, and something less in the more Northern parts, so 'tis easy 

 for every steward to adjust a price in proportion to Labourers' wages 

 in the several parts. Also if any new sort of work is to be done, not 

 mentioned in the following particulars, the steward's best way is to hire 

 a good Labourer and stand by him the whole day, to see that he does 

 a good day's work, and then to measure the same in order to see what 

 it is worth. 



The price of Ordinary Buildings and Repairs of Farm houses in the 

 Northern parts of England. 



N.B. A rod is supposd to contain 21 foot in length, which is the 

 dimensions in most parts of the North ; but if in other parts of England 

 the customary Rod shou'd be more or less, then the Rule of Proportion 

 must be used. 'Tis also suppos'd that all Materials are found, and laid 

 at hand for the workmen (except the glazier's) which is much the best 

 way, for workmen sometimes are apt to impose, and use bad materials. 



Masons Work. 



Hammer'd Double walling 22 inches thick, of middling Freestone, 

 containing a rod in length, and three foot high, which is called a Rod 

 of mason's work, may be done for &s. 6d. Coarse flagging of the 

 'forementioned stone being rough hammer'd may be done for is. \d. 

 a superficial yard. Door Jaumes and Window Jaumes of Hewn work 

 of the 'forementioned Stone may be done for %d. a superficial foot. The 

 price for carrying up chimneys is conformable to the height of the 

 Building ; which, if of a middling height, may be done for about 5^. 

 a story for each chimney, and $d. a foot for the chimney tops of hewn 

 stone. 



Paving work of Flint, or Pebble-stones for Stables or Courtyards etc., 

 may be done for 2d. halfpenny a superficial yard. 



Bricklayers Work. 



Walls of a Brick in length may be done for 2 j. a rod. 

 Walls of a Brick and half may be done for 2s. lod. a rod. 

 Partition walls a Brick in breadth, which are often used in low Houses, 

 may be done for is. 6d. a rod. 



