Jane Austen's World

Genealogy and census records record the life in 19th century England in remarkable detail. Take Appleby, for example, a village in Leicestershire which has been occupied since the iron age. The 1841 census provides a complete record of how the inhabitants of this small village made their living at that precise time, including farmers, tradesmen, drapers and dressmakers, people in domestic service, and professional people. Descriptions for each group follow a similar pattern to this one for skilled workers:

There was always a demand for skilled workers in the agricultural world and this is reflected in the large number of craftsmen supporting the farming community.Many were concerned with horses, the main means of providing power and transport.The particular men performing jobs which required skills relating to the agricultural world were:

• 5 blacksmiths – shoeing horses and making wrought iron products for farm and home

• 2 farriers – shoeing smiths also acting as horse doctors

• 1 harness maker

• 2 wheelwrights – making carts, wheels with their iron tyres (often fitted by the blacksmith)

• 2 gamekeepers – looking after the squire’s game

• 1 gardener employed in the new hall grounds

Parish of Gorleston

An inventory of goods during the 18th century recorded the possessions of established and prosperous middling farmers in such precise detail as: In ye dairy & kittchin, potts, kettles, one Copper, Barrills & tubes, In ye Chamber over ye house, one bed & Beding, Curtaines, chairs & table, In ye Chamber over ye dairy, 2 beds & beding, 2 bolsters & linnin, etc. I would imagine that history students and authors of history and historical romances would find such authentic descriptions invaluable in their research.

The extract for Appleby in 1835 states that “letters arrive every morning at half-past ten, and are despatched every afternoon at three”, and that James Hatton was the Post Master. These details make history come alive again. Amazingly, records on almost every parish in England still exist. I’ve listed a few more below:

• Cambridgeshire
  
• Gorleston: From Village to Town
• Shipton Bellinger Village History
• Researching Historic Buildings in the British Isles

Raunheim, Sleeping Kitchen Maid, 1850, Wikimedia Commons

St. Michael’s Church, Appleby (Upper image)