A HISTORY OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 



opportunities for planning the riots in all parts were found in the congregation 

 of large numbers of men in the stone-pits and on the roads, doing little work 

 under no supervision, or else in the beer-shops in out-of-the-way places. The 

 labourers in the north did not take part in the risings to so serious a degree, 

 possibly because of the extra employment in lace-making. The rate of wages 

 was also slightly better than in the southern districts. The riots were 

 certainly successful in their object in many cases, and higher wages at least 

 were obtained by unmarried labourers, but as late as 1834 a riot took place at 

 Aylesbury, the able-bodied paupers demanding higher wages. 



The report of the Royal Commission was followed by the Poor Law 

 Amendment Act. The more important of its regulations were the appoint- 

 ment of the central board to control the local administration, the formation 

 of unions of parishes, each with a common workhouse for the district, and 

 the institution of the workhouse test in the case of all able-bodied persons 

 applying for relief. This brought to an end the whole system of allowances, 

 parish labour, or roundsmen, and in the future all labourers were paid their 

 wages by the master for whom they were working. 



Not only did the artificial depression of wages cease, but the labourer 

 was no longer prevented from seeking better work in other parts of the 

 country by the necessity of remaining in his place of settlement. 



At first a good deal of hardship must have ensued, especially as the price 

 of corn was still high. It had dropped to some extent after the conclusion of 

 peace, but in 1830, the wheat used in Aylesbury 225 gaol was bought at prices 

 varying from 2 ijs. ^\d. a quarter to 3 I is. yd. a quarter ; flour was I is. 

 a bushel, and the i Ib. loaf of bread 2\d. to z\d. On the repeal of the 

 Corn Laws the fall in the price of wheat improved the purchasing power of 

 the labourer's wages, though these were not higher than 9^. or IQJ. a week 

 in the Vale, and 8j. in the Chilterns in i85o. 226 After the poor-law 

 reform a rise had been effected, since in 1847, while higher prices still 

 prevailed, wages had been zs. or 3-r. a week more than in 1850. Foreign 

 competition affected the farmers in the Vale less than those in the Chilterns, 

 since dairy-farming was not influenced by the low prices. The nearness of 

 London provided the best market for butter and fat cattle, and 50^. an acre 

 was paid for the best grazing lands, while the comparatively high poor rates 

 caused but few complaints. As early as 1804 a market at Aylesbury for fat 

 cattle, in addition to the ordinary weekly cattle market, had been established, 

 and on the opening up of the country by railway communication fresh 

 facilities were afforded for supplying the London market. The population 

 was not large, and few labourers were out of employment, although only ten 

 to fourteen men were employed on a dairy farm of 300 to 400 acres. 



In the Chiltern districts the low prices of corn occasioned very general 

 complaints. The farmer could not make arable farming pay when wheat was 

 less than 56^. to 64*. a quarter, and his rents had not fallen at all, the average 

 being 30^. an acre. Rather lower rents were paid in the south-eastern part 

 of the county, and market gardens were established near London. 



As a rule the covenants as to cropping had died out, and the landlords 

 did not interfere, but some leases enforcing the rotation of three crops and a 

 fallow still existed. 



m Quart. Sess. Rec. fle Caird, Brit. Agrlc. 1850-1. 



9 2 



