214 BRITISH RURAL LIFE AND LABOUR. 



LANCASHIRE. 



Another fairly good wage county was Lancashire, and there, 

 according to the Poor Law returns, wages were : in the Clitheroe 

 Union, fifteen to sixteen and sixpence per week, or if board and 

 lodging were given, seven shillings per week in cash in addition ; 

 in the Garstang Union also, seven shillings a week and food ; whilst 

 in the Ormskirk Union, fifteen shillings without food was the rate 

 or twelve shillings and some food that is to say, partial food. 

 In this county pauperism stood at the low figure of 3-3 per cent. 

 of the population. 



LEICESTERSHIRE . 



Wages in the county of Leicester were from eleven to thirteen 

 shillings per week. But more was obtainable in the districts in 

 close proximity to towns, or collieries ; and an extra payment of 

 one shilling a week for Sunday work. There was not much 

 piecework in Leicestershire. Cottage rents were from one and 

 sixpence to two shillings. Poor Law returns showed the wages as 

 follows : in the Market Bosworth Union, thirteen shillings, and 

 in the Melton Union, twelve to fourteen shillings. Pauperism 

 was returned as 4/3 per cent, of the population. 



LINCOLNSHIRE. 



A comparatively good rate of wages prevailed in the county 

 of Lincoln. The lowest were in the south-eastern districts of 

 that county, and there they averaged thirteen and sixpence per 

 week; in other parts, fifteen shillings. Piecework was very general, 

 especially in the northern parts, and there, by adopting it, the 

 labourers could add an average of two shillings a week to the 

 ordinary wages. In parts of the county the peasantry lived on 

 the farms, and then were paid partly in cash and partly in kind 

 their total earnings, in such cases, being reckoned at from 40 to 

 ^45 per annum. Cottage rents ranged from one and sixpence to 

 two and sixpence per week. Pauperism was given at 4*9 per cent, 

 of the population. 



MONMOUTHSHIRE. 



The general average of wages in the county of Monmouth was 

 given at ten shillings a week yet near the town of Monmouth, 

 nine shillings was said to be the rate, but there were perquisites 

 in addition. The Poor Law returns of wages, however, materially 

 differed, and were as follows : in the Bedwelty Union, fifteen to 

 sixteen shillings a week ; in the Monmouth Union, eleven, with 

 a daily allowance of two quarts of cider ; and in the Newport 

 Union, thirteen shillings. Pauperism was returned at 6 per cent, 

 of the population. 



NORFOLK. 



Wages generally were said to range in Norfolk from eleven to 

 twelve shillings a week, but first-class men, by piecework, could 



