A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE 



wages of an agricultural labourer in this district vary from 1 6s. to 1 8j. with 

 the 4 Ib. loaf at \\d. to $d. 



A good deal of light is thrown on the social condition of the people in 

 Staffordshire by studying its Poor Law administration in various periods. We 

 do not know much of its early history after the passing of the great Consoli- 

 dating Act of 1 60 1, but here and there are indications of the difficulties 

 experienced by the local authorities dealing with the care of the poor, and 

 the need for special measures not laid down by the Act during times of 

 special distress. For instance, in April, 1631, the justices of the peace for 

 Stafford say they have adopted the measures directed by the ' Book of Orders ' 

 for relief of the poor during times of scarcity of corn, viz. the enforcement 

 of penalties in cases in which the fine was given to the poor, the sale of corn 

 to the poor below market price, a compulsory reduction of the quantity of 

 corn converted into malt, and the billeting of poor children on the inhabi- 

 tants of the parish as apprentices. 134 The justices add, however, that there 

 are great abuses in Lichfield, Stafford, and Tamworth, corporate towns, into 

 which they have no authority to enter. A little later on in the same year 

 they say they have procured the maltsters and ale-sellers of Lichfield, Burton, 

 and Tamworth to contribute certain sums to the relief of the poor. 



The building of workhouses was slow in this county. The one estab- 

 lished at Bilston in 1700 was the first in the district, being a two-roomed 

 building belonging to one John Wooley of ' Ye Bull in Bilston ' : ' Ye in- 

 habitants to have free liberty to place what poore persons they shall think fitt 

 in yt part of my house wherein ye Widdo Bennett now is placed.' 136 



No workhouse was built in Walsall till ijiy and Shaw writing in 

 i 80 1 gives an unfavourable account of the Wolverhampton workhouse. He 

 describes it as dark, dirty, and ill-ventilated, surrounded by a high wall which 

 prevents the circulation of air, adding that whenever small-pox, measles, or 

 malignant fevers make their appearance, the mortality is very great. In 1801 

 there were 131 inmates, of whom about sixty were children and the rest 

 soldiers' wives with families, and others, either infirm, old, or insane. 

 Those able to work made hop-sacks in a workshop provided by the parish, 

 under a manufacturer who paid is. zd. per head for every pauper above eight 

 years old who could work, for which he was entitled to their earnings, which 

 generally amounted to 80 per annum. 137 



In the year ending 1793 the average number of poor in the house was 

 sixty-nine, and the expenditure on food 2s. ^\d. per week for each person. 138 



In Stafford there were other devices for dealing with the poor. In 

 1700 



one John Higginson did offer to take upon himself the general care of the poor of the 

 corporation and to pay the several sums allowed for their support, he being remunerated for 

 his trouble to the extent of 5, and the money disbursed coming chiefly from the rent of a 

 certain malt-mill. 139 



1 l 73S-> however, a vestry meeting decided to set the poor to work in a 

 house in St. Mary's churchyard and drew up a list of rules, which are 



134 Cal. S.P. Dom. 1631-3, p. 16. 



1Ji Old document quoted in Hut. ofBiliton by G. T. Lawley (1893). 



" 



E. L. Glew, Hiit. of Walsall (1856), 59. '" Stebbing Shaw, op. cit. ii, 164.. 



Ibid. 165 ; Eden, Rep. of State of Poor (1795), i, 655-78. " J. L. Cherry, op. cit. 183. 



296 



