2i8 BRITISH RURAL LIFE AND LABOUR. 



would bring it up to from one to two shillings a week more, 

 although sometimes a lump sum was given in lieu of it for a 

 stated period. The Commissioner mentions i, but does 

 not state for what period that amount was payable. Cottage 

 rents were, in Wiltshire, as in so many other counties, a shilling to 

 one and sixpence a week. Returns from the Wiltshire Unions 

 give the undermentioned results : in the Aderbury Union, nine 

 and sixpence to ten shillings a week ; in the Chippenham and 

 Melksham Unions, eleven shillings ; but in the Warminster 

 Union, nine and sixpence to ten shillings. There were seldom 

 any allowances, except at harvest - time, and pauperism was 

 naturally swollen to 7-2 per cent. 



WORCESTERSHIRE. 



East and west differed very appreciably in the county of 

 Worcester; whilst in its eastern parts twelve shillings were 

 obtainable, wages in the west of the county were only nine 

 shillings weekly. Cider, but only in some cases, was given. 

 Harvest work was mostly performed by the piece ; but, in 

 some instances, i extra was paid. Cottage rents, as in 

 so many other counties, were from a shilling to eighteenpence 

 a week. The Poor Law returns gave wages, as follows, in the 

 Unions mentioned: Droitwich, ten shillings, and cider; Eves- 

 ham, the same ; Pershore, ten to twelve shillings, with cider ; 

 Stourbridge, twelve shillings, with beer allowance. Pauperism, 

 4* i per cent, of the population. 



YORKSHIRE. 



A good deal of piecework was the rule in Yorkshire, but 

 ordinary wages were given as from fourteen to fifteen shillings 

 a week. Food, however, as part of wages, was a not uncommon 

 arrangement ; and then the cash paid was usually about seven 

 shillings a week. The Poor Law returns, however, for the 

 several enumerated unions, gave the following as the wages 

 paid per week : Doncaster, fifteen shillings ; Leyburn, thirteen 

 to eighteen shillings ; Malton, fifteen, or seven or eight shillings 

 with food ; Pateley-Bridge, fifteen to seventeen shillings ; 

 Richmond, twelve to fifteen shillings ; Settle, thirteen and 

 sixpence to eighteen shillings ; and Thorne, thirteen and six- 

 pence to fifteen shillings. Pauperism was very low, as may 

 be inferred from the comparatively prosperous wages of York- 

 shire labourers, namely, only 2*9 per cent, of the population. 



Our "glance back" at dwellings and wages has been 

 rather a long one : yet the facts are of historical interest 

 and importance, as revealing the material condition of 

 one of the most important classes of labourers in this 

 country before prominent public attention was called 

 to that condition. 



