Now! Then! Painter Joseph Farington feels overcharged by his Ripon landlord

7 September 1801: Painter Joseph Farington feels overcharged by his Ripon landlord

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

On settling the bill we found Mr Fairgray, the landlord, had charged us 3s. each for each day’s dinner, which, being more than we understood to be customary, we remonstrated with him upon it, but he said it was in consequence of our eating no suppers, otherways he should have charged only 2s. 6d. He surprised us by saying he pays for grouse 8 shillings a brace. He told us he had been waiter at the Green Dragon at Harrogate, that the landlord paid 365 guineas for the house, including 40 acres of land, that in the season for company coming the receipts were £60 a day and upwards. He said for his inn at Ripon he pays 200 guineas a year. After some conversation we parted in good humour having paid him his demand. At Ripon there are 3 banks, small as the town is. I enquired who were the bankers, and was told that the most substantial of them is esteemed to be worth about £700 a year.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

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Original

September 7.—On settling the Bill we found Mr. Fairgray, the Landlord had charged us 3s. each for each days Dinner which being more than we understood to be customary, we remonstrated with him upon it, but He said, it was in consequence of our eating no Suppers otherways He shd. have charged only 2s 6d.—He surprised us by saying He pays for grouse 8 shillings a brace.—He told us He had been waiter at the Green dragon at Harrogate,—that the Landlord paid 365 guineas for the House including 40 acres of Land,—that in the Season for Company coming the receipts were {60 a day & upwards.—He said for His Inn at Ripon He pays 200 guineas a year.—After some conversation we parted in good humour having paid him his demand. At Ripon there are 3 Banks, small as the townis. I enquired who were the Bankers & was told that the most substantial of them is esteemed to be worth abt. £700 a year.

163 words.