Barnett, David Colin (1996) The structure of industry in London: 1775-1825. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham. 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For more information, please contact [email protected] The Structure of Industry in London, 1775-1825 by David Barnett, MA Thesis submitted to the University of Nottingham for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, May, 1996 T NuZ L16ß Contents Page 1 Introduction 1 2 Sources of data 5 3 Classification of trade and industry in London 24 4 Total numbers of London businesses 35 5 London defined: geography, demography and topography 41 6 The changing structure of industry in London 52 Agriculture and horticulture 7.1 Cowkeepers and market gardeners 58 Manufacturing 7.2 Metal manufacturing 62 7.3 Glass, glassware and ceramics 63 7.4 Other non-metallic products 67 7.5 Paints, varnishes, inks and dyes 70 7.6 Soap 75 7.7 Wax and tallow products 79 7.8 Other chemical products 83 7.9 Foundries 89 7.10 Bolts, nails and metal treatment 93 7.11 Finished metal goods 95 7.12 Machinery and mechanical equipment 103 7.13 Guns and ammunition 107 7.14 Shipbuilding 110 7.15 Coachbuilding 115 7.16 Mathematical and optical instruments 121 7.17 Other precision instruments and medical equipment 124 7.18 Clocks and watches 126 7.19 Sugar refining 131 7.20 Distilling 135 7.21 Brewing 138 7.22 Other food and tobacco manufacturing 142 7.23 Silk and cotton 148 7.24 Wool, jute, flax and hemp 153 7.25 Textile finishing 156 7.26 Hosiery, carpets and miscellaneous textiles 161 7.27 Leather tanning, dressing and fellmongery 167 7.28 Saddles and harnessing 172 7.29 Luggage and other leather goods 176 7.30 Hatmaking 180 7.31 Other clothing and footwear 186 7.32 Household and other made-up textiles 190 7.33 Fur goods 194 7.34 Coopers and other wooden container makers 196 7.35 General carpenters and turners 201 7.36 Furniture making 206 7.37 Other timber manufacturing trades 213 7.38 Cork, baskets and brushes 215 219 7.39 Paper and board 7.40 Printing and publishing 224 7.41 Jewellery 230 7.42 Musical instruments 235 239 7.43 Manufacture-of miscellaneous goods Construction 7.44 General building 243 7.45 Installation of fixtures and fittings and building completion work 248 Wholesale distribution 7.46 Agricultural and textile raw materials 252 7.47 Fuels, ores, metals and industrial materials 257 7.48 Timber and building materials 261 7.49 Clothing and textiles 265 7.50 Food, drink and tobacco 270 7.51 Other wholesale distribution 273 7.52 Merchants 275 7.53 Dealing in waste materials 280 Commission agents 7.54 Agricultural raw materials 283 7.55 Textiles and textile raw materials 287 7.56 Other agents, factors and brokers 290 Retail distribution 7.57 Meat and poultry 292 7.58 Bakers 299 7.59 Fruit and vegetables 302 7.60 Fish 305 7.61 Grocery and provisions 307 7.62 Wine, beer and spirits 314 7.63 Tobacco and snuff 318 7.64 Confectionery and newspapers 321 7.65 Apothecaries, chemists and druggists 323 7.66 Tailors and dressmakers 329 7.67 Staymakers 334 7.68 Hats, hosiery and gloves 336 7.69 Haberdashery 341 7.70 Drapers and mercers 344 7.71 Multiple specialism textile goods retailers 349 7.72 Ready made clothing 352 7.73 Shoemakers 357 7.74 Other leather goods 361 7.75 Furnishing fabrics and household textiles 363 7.76 Hardware and ironmongery 365 7.77 Oils, candles and paints 369 7.78 Cutlery and plated goods 373 7.79 China, glass and earthenware 375 7.80 Pictures and prints 379 7.81 Music and musical instruments 381 7.82 Furniture and general household goods 383 7.83 Booksellers 387 7.84 Stationers 391 7.85 Coal and fuel 394 7.86 Jewellery 397 7.87 Other specialised non-food retailing 401 7.88 General shopkeepers 403 7.89 Victuallers, hotels, inns, coffee houses and eating places 405 Transport and storage 7.90 Stablekeepers and coachmasters 412 7.91 Carriers and carmen 417 7.92 Inland water transport services 421 7.93 Shipowners 424 7.94 Granary keepers 426 Financial, professional, personal and other services 7.95 Pawnbrokers 428 7.96 Professional and technical services 431 7.97 Sanitary and public services 433 7.98 Artistic and recreational services 435 7.99 Laundering 437 7.100 Hairdressing, beauty treatment and public baths 439 7.101 Undertakers 442 8 The London businesswoman 445 9 Bankruptcy Commission files: capital, commercial property and profits 450 10 Conclusion 455 Notes 469 Bibliography 493 Abstract This study sets out a quantitative overview of the economy of London during the period 1775 to 1825. A database has been constructed from the extant London Fire Office registers of 31,000 businesses trading either in the periods 1769-1777 or 1819- 1825, and in a few cases in both. Represented are over 1300 separate trades covering the entire spectrum of manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail distribution, transport and the service sector. To complement this data, use has also been made of trade directories, bankruptcy files, trade card collections, Census data and contemporary literature on London trades, including career guides. In order to analyse trends over this period, the database uses a version of the modern Standard Industrial Classification modified by the author. The 1300 separate trades are grouped into 101 sectors within seven main divisions of the economy. The database includes the name(s) of the proprietors of the business, the address, the trade and details of the risks insured. From this it has been possible to present statistical evidence on a number of areas of controversy about the role of London during the Industrial Revolution. It is shown that London remained a major manufacturing centre throughout the period. It has also been possible to exemplify in detail the impact of the 18th century consumer revolution by charting the expansion and increasing diversity of the wholesale and retail distribution sectors. Finally, the Importance of the role of service industries in the economy of London has been established, with special reference to transport and catering. Acknowledgements This thesis would not have been possible without the computer expertise of my son-in- law, Jonathan Birkett. As a member of the pre-computer generation, I could not have coped without his ever ready willingness to help and advise. I am also grateful for the help of the staff of the Guildhall Library, and the many other libraries I used, over the many months during which I was gathering the mountains of data on which it is based. Above all, this thesis would never have happened without the initial inspiration and unfailing subsequent advice, guidance and enthusiastic support of my supervisor, Professor Stanley Chapman. Finally, it most certainly would never have been written without either the constant support of my family or the patience and understanding of my wife during the several years in which it took up so much of my time. It is my greatest pleasure to dedicate it to her. 1 Introduction Speaking in New York in 1925, Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States, said "The chief business of the American people is business". A century earlier it would have been just as true to have said that of London. Roy Porter's most recent study of London has a quotation from Southey which might well have applied to New York a century later, "I happened to go into a pastrycook's shop one morning and inquired of the mistress kept her why she window open during this severe weather - which I observed most of the trade did. She told me, that were she to close it, her be receipts would lessened forty or fifty shillings a day - so many were the persons who took up buns or biscuits as they passed by and threw their pence in, not allowing themselves time to enter. Was there ever so indefatigable a people! "' For Roy Porter, London "Between the two Elizabeths, between 1570 and 1986 to be more precise... was to become the world's greatest city. "2 This is, perhaps, a trifle exaggerated. Indeed he goes on to make the same point himself.