MOVING-ON FROM A RURAL PARISH: A Multidisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Population Trends and Migration in an area of the English-Welsh Borderland David Maund, BA; M.Phil. (Leicester) Department of Applied Sciences, Geography and Archaeology University of Worcester. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the University's requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy February 2008 Coventry University in association with the University of Worcester. Moving – ON FROM A RURAL PARISH: A Multidisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Population Trends and Migration in an area of the English-Welsh Borderland CONTENTS Abstract i Acknowledgements ii List of Figures iii List of Tables vi Chapter 1 Introduction 1 Chapter 2 Migration through Time and Space 6 Chapter 3 Sources and Methods 22 Chapter 4 Place: The Geographical Context 42 Chapter 5 The Cultural Context and Ways of Life 67 Chapter 6 Demographic Context 1801-2001 107 Chapter 7 Migrating Families: Neighbourhood of Little Hereford, 1871- 139 1881 Chapter 8 The Decision to Move 194 Chapter 9 There and Back – How Far Was It? 248 Chapter 10 Outcomes and Prospects 309 References 317 ii ABSTRACT This study is about migration and aims to analyse the complexities which underlie the movement of people in time and space. There are three major interdependent elements essential to such a study – data, a context and longitudinal time scale. The study commences with a discussion of various approaches which have been taken by scholars to the study of migration, drawing particular attention to the behavioural or decision making perspective. This is followed by an assessment of relevant data sources, including census enumerators’ books, parish registers and oral accounts. This piece of research has been structured to use these sources for an analysis of a study area in the middle English /Welsh Borderland, concentrating on the neighbourhood of the parish of Little Hereford. The salient geographical characteristics of the area and family structure are highlighted in Chapter 4, before an examination is made of its culture, ways of life and changing demographic profile in Chapters 5 and 6. The remainder of the study homes in on the details of migration, first looking at the pattern of movement in the decade 1871 to 1881 and then charting the movements of three core families (Bennett, Rowbury and Maund), with a particular focus on the last of these. It is these three families which give the longitudinal dimension to the study. An assessment of the role of place in migration decisions is attempted but even at this micro scale of analysis it proves difficult to get really close to the decisions made over a long time period. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study is dedicated to the memory of Frederick Godwin Maund, 1917 - 2002, my brother Fred, 19 years older than me and who, perhaps unknowingly, started it all more than 60 years ago with his stories of Bircher Common and living in the caravan. But I am also indebted to my sister Brenda Middlecott, currently 94 years young; my brother Ken, 1915 - 2006 and cousin Bill, 1913 – 2000. Polly Rubery, Chris Davies and Gary Maund provided essential family history data for the analysis and the expertise of Polly was also important in filling in some gaps in my own family tree. I am immensely grateful to them all. The contents of the maps and diagrams are entirely mine but the presentation is due to Graham Hill of the University of Worcester. I could not have managed without him and his very rapid response to all my demands. Martin Ingram generously offered time in setting up spreadsheets which enabled the analysis in Chapter 7. He was also always available when the PC developed a mind of its own. My neighbour, John Barker, volunteered his considerable skills as a proof reader, beyond the call of duty. The Record Offices, particularly those in Shrewsbury and in Hereford, were an essential resource and their staff so very obliging, face to face and on the telephone, when I asked for small details I had omitted to record. The same is true of Robin Hill of the Hereford Reference Library who has great patience and wonderful knowledge of the collection he so carefully manages. The staff of the library at the University of Worcester saved me innumerable journeys from the western fringe of the Borderland. My Director of Studies is Dr David Storey and I can not thank him enough for his quick and willing responses to my drafts and queries, his subtle and careful guidance and his humour and support. I’ve known Emeritus Professor Gareth Lewis for 40 years and, in retirement, he’s read my drafts, driven down the motorways to meet with me, willingly shared his expertise and shown great interest and support. I could not have asked for two better or more complementary supervisors than these. My wife of course has done the final, vital, proof read but she has also been willing to sit in Record Offices and shown great indulgence – and she’s done just that for a life time. But, finally, I must mention our daughter, Dr Karen Maund, whose occasional quizzical scepticism has been a joy whilst our son, Matthew, has looked on with amused tolerance at such eccentricity. David Maund. Pembridge. 2008. ii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1 Approaches within Migration 17 Figure 3.1 Sequence through the Investigation 25 Figure 3.2 Detail of a CEB 30 Figure 3.3 Family and Household 32 Figure 4.1 Western Cultural Provinces 45 Figure 4.2 The Welsh Borderland 47 Figure 4.3 The Mid Borderland 48 Figure 4.4 The Prime Parish - Little Hereford 50 Figure 4.5 Little Hereford and its Neighbourhood 51 Figure 4.6 The Parishes in the Neighbourhood of Little Hereford 1871 62 Figure 5.1 The Mid Borderland 70 Figure 5.2 Little Hereford and Basin of River Teme 72 Figure 5.3 Tenbury and Bewdley Railway 87 Figure 5.4 Railways of Little Hereford Locality c 1870 88 Figure 5.5 New House Farm – Little Hereford 94 Figure 6.1 Population Transition 109 Figure 6.2 Population Trends in England and Wales 1801 – 2001 112 Figure 6.3 Population Trends in Birmingham 114 Figure 6.4 Birmingham: Population Growth and Boundary Change 115 Figure 6.5 The Expansion of Birmingham 116 Figure 6.6 Trends in County Population Totals, 1801-2001 119 Figure 6.7 Population Trends in County Towns, 1801-2001 122 Figure 6.8 Population Trends in Market Towns 126 Figure 6.9 Population Trends in the Neighbourhood of Little Hereford 128 Figure 6.10 Key Events in Context, Little Hereford 1750-1991 129 Figure 6.11 Parishes of the Neighbourhood of Little Hereford 131 Figure 6.12 Population Trends in the Parishes of the Neighbourhood 132 Figure 6.13 Summary of Population Trends, Category of Parish 134 iii Figure 7.1 Schematic Family Cycle 143 Figure 7.2 Notional Family Cycle 143 Figure 7.3 Accessibility in the Neighbourhood of Little Hereford: 153 Late 19th Century Figure 7.4 Characteristics of Out-Migrating Families: Neighbourhood 156 of Little Hereford 1871-1881 Figure 7.5 Life Cycle: Head of Household of Out-Migrating Families, 160 Neighbourhood of Little Hereford 1871 Figure 7.6 Family Structure: Out Migrating Families, Neighbourhood of 163 Little Hereford, 1871. Figure 7.7 Family Cycle –Out Migrating Families 165 Figure 7.8 Origins of Marriage Partners 169 Figure 7.9 Occupations of Head of Households 172 Figure 7.10 Distances Moved by Out Migrating families 176 Figure 7.11 Destination of Families of Out Migrants 180 Figure 8.1 Parish of Little Hereford – Location of Core Families 201 Figure 8.2 Bedlam Row, 1846 202 Figure 8.3 A Bedlam Row Cottage 203 Figure 8.4 Notice to Quit 205 Figure 8.5 Migration Routes of Core Families to 19th Century 211 Figure 8.6 Bennett Family Tree (1) 216 Figure 8.7 Bennett Family Tree (2) 217 Figure 8.8 Bennett Family Tree (3) 218 Figure 8.9 Bennett: Migration Path 219 Figure 8.10 The Family of John Rowbury (2) 228 Figure 8.11 Migration Path of Rowbury Family 229 Figure 8.12 Migration Path of Maund Family 235 Figure 8.13.1 The Bennetts 244 Figure 8.13.2 The Rowburys 244 Figure 8.13.3 The Maunds 245 Figure 9.1 Time of Decision (Kirk 1963 p369) 250 Figure 9.2 The Position of Magene 254 iv Figure 9.3 The Maund Territory (Shepherd 1979 p2) 255 Figure 9.4 Distribution of Maund Names 1 256 Figure 9.5 Distribution of Maund Names 2 258 Figure 9.6 Distribution of Maund Names 3 259 Figure 9.7 The Maund Country 1800-1850 260 Figure 9.8 High Street, Harborne 266 Figure 9.9 Bircher Common 269 Figure 9.10 Extract, Admissions Register, Cock Gate School, 1924 271 Figure 9.11 Letter from Fred Maund 11th Nov 1996 273 Figure 9.12 The Caravan 273 Figure 9.13 “A Better House” 276 v LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Changes in Migration Studies 1980s to 1990s 10 Table 2.2 Recent Ideas in Migration Studies 11 Table 2.3 Life Course Transitions 19 Table 3.1 Framework for achieving Aims 24 Table 4.1 Core Families of Little Hereford Parish 57 Table 4.2 Little Hereford: Place of Birth Heads of Household and 59 Spouses 1851 Table 4.3 Birth Place Distances from Little Hereford Parish 60 Table 4.4 Birth Place Gradient 61 Table 5.1 Little Hereford – Land Use 1846 79 Table 5.2 Kimbolton - Land Use 1840 79 Table 5.3 Crop Proportions on single Farm 79 Table 5.4 Animals on a single Farm 80 Table 5.5 Little Hereford- Field Size 81 Table 5.6 Little Hereford - Farm Size 81 Table 5.7 Types of Farm Worker in Little Hereford 1851 95 Table 5.8 Types of Farm Worker in Little Hereford 1901 96 Table 5.9 Living-In Contrasts in Little Hereford 1851 and 1901 101 Table 5.10 Changing Trade Skills and Occupations 102 Table 5.11 Change in Skilled Jobs in Little Hereford 111851 and