Prices
In the Blathwayt family's trade bills money is stated in pounds (£), shillings (s) and pence (d). There were 240 pence in the pound and twelve pence in the shilling, and twenty shillings to the pound. This system was used in the United Kingdom until 1971.
The list of prices below is collected from the trade bills in the Fitzwilliam Museum's collection, and so are most accurate for the period 1764-86.
More information about money in this period as well as images of coins and tokens can be found on the Money section of the online exhibition.
Price | Item | Shop |
1d | A needle | at a haberdashery |
5d | One mango in 1755 | British Museum, Heal collection |
6d | One bottle of ink | |
7-8d | One tallow candle | at a chandler's |
8d | One stone chamber pot | at a chinaman's |
9d | A skein of cotton thread | at a haberdashery |
1s | A quire of best foolscap paper | at a stationer's |
3s | To clean and mend a servant's breeches | at a breeches maker's |
4s 6d | A pair of black silk gloves | |
5s | A pair of cotton hose | at a hosier's |
10s 6d | A pair of white silk hose | at a framework knitter's |
11s 6d | To make up a calash hood trimmed with lace | |
12s | One plain shirt | at a linen draper's |
13s | To dye 20 yards of white silk yellow | at a silk dyer's |
15s | One ruffled shirt | at the same linen draper's |
16s | To make up a dress for a pet monkey | at a robe maker's |
18s | Half a dozen handkerchiefs | at a linen draper's |
£1 | For a fine set of shovel and tongs | at an ironmonger's |
£1 2s 6d | A year's rate for paving, repairing, cleaning and lighting the streets of St James parish (1779) | (Gloucester Archives) |
£1 4s | Making up a silk sack dress | at a robe maker's |
£1 7s | A crimson silk sash | at a laceman's |
£1 11s 6d | A pair of silken stays | at a linen draper's |
£2 2s | A pair of stays | at a robe maker's |
£3 6s | Enough lace to make ruffled cuffs for dress sleeves | |
£4 4s | A pair of two-light girandole candlesticks | at a glass cutter's |
£4 12s | 4 pairs of livery breeches for servants | at a breeches maker's |
£5 4s | 4 hats for servants | at a hat maker's |
£7 | A pair of cut-glass cruets | at the same glass cutter's |
£8 10s | Enough patterned ducape to make a dress | at a mercery |
£12 2s | Enough white satin to make a dress | at one of the best mercers in town |
£17 5s | Enough tissue (light-weight silk) to make a dress | |
£33 15s 7d | Kitting out a house with new fireplaces & tools | at an ironmonger's |
£40 | Annual income of a minor tradesman, who would struggle to support a family | |
£400 | Annual income of substantial London tradesman, providing a comfortable living |