Frome Family History Group welcomed John Payne to their February meeting to talk about the movement of people between rural settlements and the towns and cities between 1850 and 1950.
The group say, “Using his own family as examples, John took us through the Revolutionary Wars and the industrial and agricultural revolution. Agricultural improver, John Billingsley, promoted enclosure, turnpikes, crop rotation and the double furrow plough; all of which led to improved production but the need for fewer agricultural labourers.
“The countryside responded with riots including those by the Tolpuddle Martyrs, and the followers of the mythical Captain Swing. The Primitive Methodist Chapel at Sixpenny Handley was the centre of the Swing Riots in 1830. By the time of the 1881 census there were 92,000 fewer agricultural labourers and by 1911 agriculture accounted for less than 10% of national income.
“A move to towns and cities was inevitable and Chewton Mendip, where John’s family came from, saw its population decline from 1327 in 1821 to 480 in 1981. Interestingly, with modern working methods and a desire to be in the country, it has now gone up to 585.
“John went on to look at Bath where his great grandfather migrated and the fortunes of his children – some of whom worked at Stothert and Pitt, the crane makers. Charles Payne finished up in the workhouse and John was moved by the site of a field where 3,000 inmates were buried with no marked grave. The site is now being improved by local volunteers and charitable donations.”
For more information on the group or to contact them, visit: www.fromefamilyhistorygroup.co.uk
