The transformation of St. Peter Port, Guernsey, 1680-1831
The argument of this study is that during the eighteenth century the Guernsey merchants displayed considerable entrepreneurial energy and initiative. By improving the harbour facilities of St Peter Port and by establishing a network of factors throughout the Atlantic world, the merchants successfully developed St Peter Port as a major entrepot. Trade, not privateering, was the fundamental source of the town's prosperity. The entrepot attracted foreign merchants and migrants to St Peter Port. Port. New port industries replaced the old putting-out system of stocking knitting. The influx of migrants, combined with natural increase, created significant population growth. As the town became increasingly prosperous, the merchants rivalled one another in conspicuous consumption. By the second half of the 18th century the elite of St Peter Port were consciously imitating the metropolitan fashions of London. The town acquired many of the amenities characteristic of Dr Borsay's ~English urban renaissance~ - a promenade, theatre, assembly rooms, purpose-built markets and new civic buildings. However, the influx of English migrants created cultural pluralism. The traditional French system of status designation broke down;
Cox, Gregory Stevens
The transformation of St. Peter Port, Guernsey, 1680-1831. The argument of this study is that during the eighteenth century the Guernsey merchants displayed considerable entrepreneurial energy and initiative. By improving the harbour facilities of St Peter Port and by establishing a network of factors throughout the Atlantic world, the merchants successfully developed St Peter Port as a major entrepot. Trade, not privateering, was the fundamental source of the town's prosperity. The entrepot attracted foreign merchants and migrants to St Peter Port. Port. New port industries replaced the old putting-out system of stocking knitting. The influx of migrants, combined with natural increase, created significant population growth. As the town became increasingly prosperous, the merchants rivalled one another in conspicuous consumption. By the second half of the 18th century the elite of St Peter Port were consciously imitating the metropolitan fashions of London. The town acquired many of the amenities characteristic of Dr Borsay's ~English urban renaissance~ - a promenade, theatre, assembly rooms, purpose-built markets and new civic buildings. However, the influx of English migrants created cultural pluralism. The traditional French system of status designation broke down;
transformation peter port argument study merchant display considerable entrepreneurial energy initiative improve harbour facility peter port establish network factor throughout atlantic_world merchant successfully develop peter port major trade fundamental source town prosperity attract foreign merchant migrant peter port port new port industry replace old putting out system stock influx migrant combine natural increase create significant population_growth town become_increasingly prosperous merchant rival one_another conspicuous consumption elite peter port consciously imitate metropolitan fashion london town acquire many characteristic english urban renaissance theatre assembly room purpose_built market new civic building however influx english migrant create cultural pluralism traditional french system status designation break