Now! Then! Painter Joseph Farington hears about corn speculation and the price of day labour from an intelligent farmer at Kirkbymoorside

7 September 1801: Painter Joseph Farington hears about corn speculation and the price of day labour from an intelligent farmer at Kirkbymoorside

Joseph Farington. 1923. The Farington Diary, Vol. 1 (July 13, 1793, to August 24, 1802). Ed. James Greig. London: Hutchinson and Co. Get it:

Excerpt

At Kirkbymoorside we found a most clean and comfortable country inn, where we had an excellent breakfast. Here I met with a very intelligent farmer who gave me much information. He spoke as others have done of the harvest being abundant and excellent, and said the markets had been lowered in the proportion of from 16 and 18 shillings, and even a guinea, to which high prices they had been advanced to shillings, but he added that he did not believe this would be permanent. He said it was at present owing to the little farmers being obliged in order to answer demands upon them to bring their corn to market, but when their sale is over the strong farmers, as he called them, those who hold £800 or £1000 a year in their hands, will keep back their stock and only deal it out at prices agreed upon among themselves. He said farmers of this description do now even purchase from the little farmers at the reduced prices with the above view. The country banks, he said, will be the ruin of the country, for by their assistance the farmers can carry into execution these speculations. It is a great evil, he observed, that any farmer of so large an amount as £800 should be allowed by the landlords – were they limited to £150 or £200 a year, the public would soon feel a sensible difference in many essential respects. The price of day labour at Kirkbymoorside is one shilling a day and find victuals, or two shillings without victuals. Some work for 18 pence. In harvest time the labourers avail themselves of the necessity of the farmers and have from 2s 6d to 5s a day.

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Original

September 7.—At Kirby Moor-side we found a most clean & comfortable country Inn where we had an excellent breakfast,—Here I met with a very intelligent farmer who gave me much information. He spoke as others have done of the Harvest being abundant & excellent & said the markets had been lowered in the proportion of from 16 & 18 shillings and even a guinea to which high prices they had been advanced to to shillings, but he added that He did not believe this would be permanent. He said it was at present owing to the little farmers being obliged in order to answer demands upon them to bring their Corn to Market, but when their sale is over the strong farmers, as He called them, those who hold £800 or £1000 a year in their hands, will keep back their stock & only deal it out at prices agreed upon among themselves.— He said Farmers of this description do now even purchase from the little farmers at the reduced prices with the above view.—The Country Banks He said will be the ruin of the Country for by their assistance the Farmers can carry into execution these speculations.—It is a great evil He observed that any farmer of so large an amount as £800 shd. be allowed by the Landlords, were they limited to £150 or £200 a year, the public would soon feel a sensible difference in many essential respects. The price of day labour at Kirby-Moor-Side is 1 shilling a day and find victuals or 2 shillings witht. victuals. Some work for Eighteen pence.— In Harvest time the labourers avail themselves of the necessity of the Farmers and have from 2s 6d to 5s a day.

279 words.