Reports of special assistant poor law commissioners on the employment of women and children in agriculture.

  • Board of guardians
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reports of special assistant poor law commissioners on the employment of women and children in agriculture. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

    365/404 (page 345)
    called, the labourers, and denounced it as pregnant with evil. There are two charities in the village, which go to support a school; the surplus money is expended in binding boys parish apprentices, with premiums of 5/., 71., or even 10/.; a month in harvest is excepted out of the year, and the wages earned are divided between the master and his apprentice. Evidence of the Rev. John Welhams, Sigglesthorn, near Hornsea. Wages as at Alwick, Patrington, &c.; hardly any work for women • the children are taken away from school occasionally to tend birds &c ■ the women can earn as much, with their families, by gleanino- as thev can in harvest. ° y 1 The rector, the Rev. William Bentinck, has taken great pains with this parish; the people are well educated, and the establishment of a lending library has given a taste for knowledge. He has also tried the allotment system ; and 26 roods of land are let to 26 labourers, at 8^a lood wih great success, as the farmer somewhat grudgingly and jealously admitted. Evidence of the Clergyman, Tickhill. Women. What are the sorts of out-door labour for women in each month ?— Pulling peas, planting potatoes, and harvesting; only employed during the summer and early autumn months. urmg What wages do they get ?-From lOrf. to 1*.; 1*. ed. in harvest time. W hat are their hours of work ?—From half-past seven to six ; in harvest from six to six. What is their usual diet, and what hours are they allowed for meals?— forSe SUgai' P°tat0eS' and frecluen,Iy bacon, bread; from 12 to 1 What are the effects of such employment on health ?—The girls from the &1outao?dUoPordS S°t0Se™- farmers'.houses, and f-enlvTem! itoZ^™L?J^d0m preferred t0 indoor'and why?~They th^tiPr0P°Kti0 of femaJe,s ar? employed in out-door work compared to uncertain . PanSh ?_N° definite ansWers can be S^Mt is so Whl\ °f a\average cottaSe ?~From 3/. to 6/. per annum. What is the nature of your cottage accommodation ?-Generally ^ood and comfortable ; from two to three rooms wueraiiy booa Have you any clothing or benefit clubs ?-A clothing club, sick clubs and funeral clubs, and generally much liked and well filled. ' Children. At what ages do the children here go out to work ?-From 6 years old for tending, and from 8 for general work years 0]a What are the effects of such employment on health ?-Very good.