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A University of Sussex MPhil thesis Available online via Sussex Research Online: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/ This thesis is protected by copyright which belongs to the author. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the aut hor, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Please visit Sussex Research Online for more information and further details Understanding Rural Migration in Late Nineteenth-Century England: Taking Parish Research to a New Level Mathew Homewood Thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy University of Sussex June 2016 I hereby declare that this thesis has not been, and will not be, submitted in whole or in part to another University for the award of any other degree. Signature: 1 University of Sussex Mathew Homewood, MPhil Thesis Understanding Rural Migration in Late Nineteenth-Century England: Taking Parish Research to a New Level Summary This thesis is an investigation into patterns of migration in England in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The research uses a unique dataset of 2,845 individual males and females from 36 carefully selected villages across a variety of English counties, traced through the census returns from 1851 to 1901. By observing the characteristics of each village, and following the migration patterns of the inhabitants, this thesis argues that migration patterns were dependant on a wide range of factors, which can only be appreciated by observing individual-level data. The first analysis chapter investigates the migratory habits of individuals from villages in Sussex, Norfolk and Northumberland. It compares the different patterns from coastal villages, remote villages, and those situated near a major town or city. It finds that individuals did not always conform to particular patterns of behaviour, and that many combined factors were involved in influencing patterns of migration. The second analysis chapter focusses on villages in the industrial north. It argues that being surrounded by a large number of urban locations did not result in a high rate of urban migration. It also shows the effect local industries had on the migratory habits of young men and women. The final analysis chapter looks at five villages in Bedfordshire, and investigates the effects of domestic industry on migration. It finds that domestic industry not only kept females local, but also had a significant effect on the men of the villages. A few studies have attempted migration research at the parish level, but most of these have tended to focus on singular villages or areas. By using a large dataset of individuals from a range of counties, and placing them in a geographical and social context, this thesis attempts to push the study of migration to a new level. 2 Acknowledgements There are a great many people who have helped me, in one way or another, during the course of writing this thesis. My main supervisor, Ian Gazeley, has been tremendously helpful and supportive throughout the entire process, and I have benefited greatly from his expertise. Also, Claire Langhamer, whose earlier input and advice was much needed and appreciated. Other members of the academic world have also provided a good deal of advice and encouragement. In particular Nicola Verdon, who has for many years been enthusiastic about my research, and arranged my first conference presentation. Also thanks to Alun Howkins, Nigel Goose, Rose Holmes and Sarah Holland, all of whom have provided assistance and advice at various points during this long journey. There are many people to thank from outside the academic world. Firstly, the staff of the record offices and archives in East Sussex, West Sussex, Norfolk, Northumberland, South Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire. Additionally, various local history society members were very helpful. In particular, Peter Howard at the Craster Local History Group, and John Turner, chairman of the Ponteland Local History Society, whose hospitality during my trip to Northumberland was greatly appreciated. Also a big thank you to Anne Carter, who was kind enough to let a complete stranger borrow her extensive research on Postwick village. And last, but not least, my friends and family, for their consistent support, patience and understanding during the tough times endured over the past four years. Special thanks to Anna Sherrard, Mike Swallow, Jenna Matthews, Andrew Chitty and Dominic Osman- Allu. And a final thank you to my father, whose passion for Sussex history has been such a great influence on me throughout my life, and whose wise words and endless supply of encouragement have been invaluable throughout my studies. 3 ‘The peasant of the Dunwich district differs in nearly every respect from the Westleton peasant, although but a little more than a league separates the two villages.’ P.H. Emerson, 1888.1 1 P. H. Emerson, Pictures of East Anglian Life (London, 1849) p.1. Quoted in B. Reay, Rural Englands (Basingstoke, 2004) p.204. 4 Contents Summary……………………………………………………………………………….2 Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………….3 Contents………………………………………………………………………………..5 Illustrations……….………………..…………………………………………………..7 Introduction……………………………………………………………………..……12 Chapter 1: A Historiography of the Studies of Rural-Urban Migration in the late 19th Century………………………………………………………….……20 Background Early studies (1870s-1950s) A new approach – enriching the broader studies Chapter 2: Methodology…………………………………………………………….48 Selecting the villages Overcoming issues encountered with data gathering Gathering and ordering the data Observing the broad statistics Chapter 3: Sussex, Norfolk and Northumberland: a comparison of migration patterns………………………………………………………….….………68 Chapter 3a: Village Descriptions………………………………………..……74 Chapter 3b: The Village Stayers……………………………………….…....108 The village stayer daughters Chapter 3c: The Migrant Sons…………………………………………...….121 The pull of nearby urban locations Urban migration as a whole Chapter 3d: The Migrant Daughters…………………………………….…..153 Urban migrant daughters Conclusions 5 Chapter 4: The Industrial North: the pull of the towns……………………………169 Village descriptions Analysis: The village stayers The migrant sons The migrant daughters Monyash, Derbyshire Analysis The daughters Conclusions Chapter 5: Bedfordshire: the effects of domestic industry……………………..…226 Village descriptions Analysis: The village stayers Migration and domestic industry Long-distance migrant sons Conclusions Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………..267 Bibliography………………………………………………………………..………273 6 Illustrations Chapter 2 Figures 2.1 Village stayer rates for the entire dataset (sons and daughters). 2.2 Distances of migration by 1881, for the total dataset (sons and daughters). 2.3 Percentage of sons and daughters still living in their village in 1881. 2.4 Percentage of migrant sons and daughters still living within 5 miles of their village by 1881. 2.5 Percentage of migrant sons and daughters living between 5 and 30 miles from their village by 1881. 2.6 Percentage of migrant sons and daughters living over 30 miles from their village by 1881. 2.7 Urban migration rates for the entire dataset (sons and daughters), comparing two methods of data collection. 2.8 Lifetime urban migration rates for each county (sons and daughters). Chapter 3 Figures 3.1 Distribution of occupation types for all male residents of Falmer and Stanmer at the time of the 1851 census. 3.2 Distribution of occupational classes for working males in Falmer and Stanmer at the time of the 1851 census. 3.3 Distribution of occupation types for all male residents of Sedlescombe and Whatlington at the time of the 1851 census. 3.4 Distribution of occupational classes for working males in Sedlescombe and Whatlington at the time of the 1851 census. 3.5 Distribution of occupation types for all male residents of West Wittering, East Wittering and West Itchenor at the time of the 1851 census. 3.6 Distribution of occupational classes for working males in West Wittering, East Wittering and West Itchenor at the time of the 1851 census. 3.7 Distribution of occupation types for all male residents of Surlingham, Postwick and Bramerton at the time of the 1851 census. 3.8 Distribution of occupational classes for working males in Surlingham, Postwick and Bramerton at the time of the 1851 census. 3.9 Distribution of occupation types for all male residents of Gooderstone and Oxborough at the time of the 1851 census. 3.10 Distribution of occupational classes for working males in Gooderstone and Oxborough at the time of the 1851 census. 3.11 Distribution of occupation types for all male residents of Happisburgh and Bacton at the time of the 1851 census. 3.12 Distribution of occupational classes for working males in Happisburgh and Bacton 7 at the time of the 1851 census. 3.13 Distribution of occupation types for all male residents of Ponteland and Dinnington at the time of the 1851 census. 3.14 Distribution of occupational classes for working males in Ponteland and Dinnington at the time of the 1851 census. 3.15 Distribution of occupation types for all male residents of Thropton and the surrounding villages at the time of the 1851 census. 3.16 Distribution of occupational classes for working males in Thropton and the surrounding villages at the time of the 1851 census. 3.17 Distribution of occupation types for all male residents of Howick, Dunstan and Craster at the time of the 1851 census. 3.18 Distribution of occupational classes for working males in Howick, Dunstan and Craster at the time of the 1851 census. 3.19 Percentage of sons and daughters still living in their village in 1881. (Sussex, Norfolk and Northumberland). 3.20 Sons and daughters still living in their village in 1881. (Sussex areas). 3.21 Sons and daughters still living in their village in 1881. (Norfolk areas). 3.22 Sons and daughters still living in their village in 1881. (Northumberland areas). 3.23 Sons and daughters still living in their village in 1881.