Differentiation within the artisan sector in Saffron Walden in the eighteenth century
Saffron Walden has an excellent town archive. There are also other good primary sources. The argument of this thesis arose from these circumstances. The purpose of this study became an investigation of whether the artisan segment of society in a small English market town of the eighteenth century constituted a homogeneous group or whether marked differentiation occurred within that segment. The nature of the artisan segment of the town is examined from the perspectives of the economic, religious and social structures found there. Due consideration is also given to the way in which the town was governed and to the importance of its charitable organisations. The roles of literacy and the ability to be able to afford the security granted by fire insurance in the latter part of the century also turned out to be of critical importance. Life-course analysis for a number of artisans was also carried out permitting a prosopographical approach to be adopted where relevant. It is concluded that for an artisan in the eighteenth century in Saffron Walden a number of factors were vital in determining whether he would be successful. These included his initial family background and position within that family, the trade
Walker, Hilary
Differentiation within the artisan sector in Saffron Walden in the eighteenth century. Saffron Walden has an excellent town archive. There are also other good primary sources. The argument of this thesis arose from these circumstances. The purpose of this study became an investigation of whether the artisan segment of society in a small English market town of the eighteenth century constituted a homogeneous group or whether marked differentiation occurred within that segment. The nature of the artisan segment of the town is examined from the perspectives of the economic, religious and social structures found there. Due consideration is also given to the way in which the town was governed and to the importance of its charitable organisations. The roles of literacy and the ability to be able to afford the security granted by fire insurance in the latter part of the century also turned out to be of critical importance. Life-course analysis for a number of artisans was also carried out permitting a prosopographical approach to be adopted where relevant. It is concluded that for an artisan in the eighteenth century in Saffron Walden a number of factors were vital in determining whether he would be successful. These included his initial family background and position within that family, the trade
differentiation within artisan sector excellent town archive also good primary_source argument arise circumstance purpose_study become investigation whether artisan segment society small english market_town constitute homogeneous_group whether mark differentiation occur_within segment nature artisan segment town examine perspective economic religious social_structure find there due consideration also_give way town govern importance charitable organisation role literacy ability able afford security grant fire insurance latter_part century also turn critical_importance life_course analysis number artisan also carry permit prosopographical adopt relevant conclude artisan number_factor vital determine_whether would successful include initial family_background position_within family trade