90 



v.— LABOUR AND HIKINGS. 



IN Westmorland the great majority of farm labourers are unmarried 

 men who board and lodge with the farmers, and, except on 

 the large farms where men are told off to tend stock or horses, they 

 are employed in the general work of the farm. In the early years 

 of the century, up to about 1825, they were hired, at the Whitsuntide 

 Statute Hirings, by the year, but soon after that date Martinmas 

 Hirings commenced, since when the term of service has been by the 

 half year. This also applied to women employed in farm service. 



At the hiring fairs men and women stand in the market place 

 on the appointed day, the former wearing some token in their coats 

 or hats, a straw generally in former times, but now more commonly 

 a small artificial flower, as an indication that they were unhired. 

 The farmers pass amongst them, and selecting a likely-looking man 

 or woman, the bargaining for wages commence, and on an agreement 

 being come to the bargain is completed by the farmer giving the servant 

 a shilling, known as a " Yearl " or " Arl," which, on being received, 

 is a binding acknowledgment for half-a-year's service to the next 

 hiring day, on the terms agreed upon. Through the action of certain 

 ladies round Kendal, in 1895 a large hall was engaged for the female 

 hiring, and though it was not at first appreciated, the custom has 

 gradually become popular, and very few females are now seen in the 

 open market either there or in other places where statute hirings are 

 held. 



The dates upon which the " statute " hirings are held are the 

 same as at the commencement of the century — at Kendal they are 

 held on Whit-Saturday, and since about 1829 on the Saturday nearest 

 the nth of November ; at Appleby at the High Cross on Whit-Monday, 

 and at the Low Cross on the Saturday nearest Martinmas ; at Kirkby 

 Stephen the hirings are held on the Mondays previous to Whit-Saturday 

 and the nth of November. 



Farm servants obtain a week's holiday at the end of each term, 

 and it has become increasingly common for them not to hire until 

 the week following the dates given above at what ai-e now known as 



