During
the 18th century the majority of the people in St Neots, Eynesbury,
Eaton Ford and Eaton Socon were employed in the primary industry of
agriculture. Agricultural labour was the most common job.
Landowners
wanted to profit from new developments like iron ploughs, steam-powered
equipment, seed drills, cross-breeding, mass produced clay drainage pipes and
new fertilisers. This cost money so only the wealthier farmers could afford
it. They also were keen on enclosing land to make larger fields and
parklands closer to their houses.
By
the middle of the 19th century there were a number of associated
agricultural trades like millers, blacksmiths, basket makers, curriers
(prepared horses), saddlers, horse dealers, pig dealers, hagglers, hucksters,
slaughterers, butchers, skinners, tanners, sausage makers, corn merchants,
straw plait dealers, tallow chandlers, bakers, maltsters and brewers.
The
main industrial process in St Neots was milling corn. The mills were
powered by water wheels (e.g. Paxton Mill and the River Mill in Eaton
Socon) or by wind (e.g. Duloe windmill).
After
a fire burnt down the steam-powered corn mill in New Street in 1846
John Medlock built a new mill in Nutters Lane (Bedford
Street) He sold it to Joshua Malden. It then belonged to Thomas Smith
and in 1865 to William Paine, the St Neots brewer. £200 was
spent on improvements, which included a sawmill.
(Sources: Young, R.
(1996), 'St Neots Past', Phillimore; Tebbutt, C.F. (1978), St Neots –
History of a Huntingdonshire Town, Unwin Brothers)
How many people were directly or indirectly engaged in work related to farming?
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Tradesmen and women in St Neots & Eynesbury
1854 |
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Basket-makers |
1 |
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Blacksmiths |
2 |
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Coach builders |
1 |
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Lace dealers |
2 |
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Comb-makers |
1 |
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Millers |
2 |
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Curriers |
1 |
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Rope-makers |
2 |
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Dyers and scourers |
1 |
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Sadlers |
2 |
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Glovers |
1 |
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Tallow chandlers |
2 |
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Higglers |
1 |
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Upholsterers |
2 |
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Horse dealers |
1 |
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Carriers |
3 |
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Hucksters |
1 |
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Printers |
3 |
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Iron founders |
1 |
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Stonemasons |
3 |
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Letter carriers |
1 |
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Watch and clockmakers |
3 |
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Machine men |
1 |
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Brick-makers |
4 |
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Marine store dealers |
1 |
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Coopers |
4 |
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Master watermen |
1 |
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Milliners and dressmakers |
4 |
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Millwrights |
1 |
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Wheelwrights |
4 |
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Parchment makers |
1 |
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Brewers |
5 |
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Pig dealers |
1 |
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Maltsters |
5 |
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Razor-grinders |
1 |
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Bricklayers |
6 |
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Sausage-makers |
1 |
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Painters, plumbers and glaziers |
6 |
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Staymakers |
1 |
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Butchers |
10 |
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Straw plait dealers |
1 |
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Bakers |
13 |
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Tobacco pipe makers |
1 |
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Carpenters |
15 |
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Turners |
1 |
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Tailors |
15 |
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Whitesmiths |
1 |
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Boot-makers |
16 |
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Inn-keepers |
26 |
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Beer retailiers |
28 |
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Source: History
and Gazetteer of Huntingdonshire (1854) |
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NB These are people
who paid to be included in the Gazetteer. |
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Some people
advertised did more than one job. Many of these employed apprentices and
labourers. There's no mention of landowners and farmers. |
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