Occupations in Herefordshire
Learn about a specific occupation here: (I must apologise for the upside down alphabetic order – I am trying to find out how to recitify it!)
- Whitesmith
A Whitesmith is a tin worker (sometimes known as tinsmith), but the term also referred to a finisher of any metal goods, but usually iron, or pewter.
Read More > - Wheelwright
Not only a maker of wheels, but also of the whole wagon.
Read More > - Washerwoman
A washerwoman usually had her own recipe for making soap – often including wood ash and lard as well as water.
Read More > - Thatcher
Thatch was not only used for cottages and farmhouses in Herefordshire, but also for many churches and castles.
Read More > - Tanner
A curer of animal hides. As Herefordshire was, and still is, predominantly rural and industry free, the large numbers of cattle and sheep provided endless raw material for the tanners.
Read More >
The following information was kindly supplied by Mike Walsh – a Dilwyner and exceptional researcher!
Wages in early 18th century
| Butler | £57.10s | Per annum | |
| Confectioner | £52.10s | Per annum | |
| Footman | £6 – £8 | Per annum | |
| Head Gardener | £30 | Per annum | |
| Assistant Gardener | £4 | Per annum | |
| Head Coachman | £12-£26 | Per annum | |
| Assistant Coachman | £9-£10 | Per annum | |
| Housekeeper | £12 | Per annum | |
| Housemaid | £6 | Per annum | |
| Laundry Maid | £5-£6 | Per annum | |
| Personal Maid | £8 | Per annum |
Labouring Wages in early 18th century
| Labourer | 10d | Per day, plus beer in winter |
| Carrying hay | 1s | Per day with board |
| Harvesting | 30s | Per month with board |
| Reaping | 2s 6d | Per acre |
| Mowing | 8d | Per acre |
| Threshing | 1s to 2s 8d | Per quarter |
Wages mid to late 18th century (1710 to 1797)
| Agricultural labourers | £18 – £30 | Per annum |
| General labourers | £19 – £25 | Per annum |
| Messengers and Porters | £31 – £58 | Per annum |
| Police, Guards, Watchmen | £13 – £47 | Per annum |
| Miners | £22 – £48 | Per annum |
| Shipbuilding skilled workers | £36 – £51 | Per annum |
| Engineering, skilled | £41 – £58 | Per annum |
| Building Trade | £29 – £41 | Per annum |
| Textiles, skilled | £34 – £48 | Per annum |
| Printing trade, skilled | £43 – £67 | Per annum |
Professional salaries mid to late 18th century (1710 to 1797)
| Clergymen | £100 – £239 | Per annum |
| Clerks | £113 – £165 | Per annum |
| Engineers | £131 – £190 | Per annum |
| Solicitors and Barristers | £113 – £165 | Per annum |
| Surgeons, Medical officers | £52 – £175 | Per annum |
| Teachers | £16 – £43 | Per annum |
Professional salaries and wages early to mid 19th century (1810 – 1851)
| Agricultural Labourers | £42.04 – £53.62 | Per annum |
| Clergymen | £283 – £267.09 | Per annum |
| Clerks | £178.11 – £235.81 | Per annum |
| Engineers, Surveyors | £305 – £479 | Per annum |
| General Labourers | £43.94 – £44.83 | Per annum |
| Government, high wage | £176.86 – £234.87 | Per annum |
| Government, low wage | £57.17 – £66.45 | Per annum |
| Messengers, porters | £76.01 – £88.88 | Per annum |
| Miners | £63.22 – £55.44 | Per annum |
| Skilled Builders | £66.35 – £66.35 | Per annum |
| Skilled in Engineering | £88.23 – £84.05 | Per annum |
| Skilled in printing trade | £79.22 – £74.22 | Per annum |
| Skilled in textiles | £78.21 – £58.64 | Per annum |
| Solicitors and Barristers | £447.50 – £1837.50 | Per annum |
| Surgeons | £217.60 – £200.92 | Per annum |