Illegitimacy in a handloom weaving community

Thesis



This is a study of illegitimacy in a rural industrial district in which the phenomenon became extremely common during the early nineteenth century, subsequently declining sharply in frequency from around the 1840s to levels reminiscent of the preceding century.

In the normal course of events a thesis within the field of socio-economic history will often evolve from the author having first selected a subject, then an approach to its study, and finally a location for implementing or testing his model. However in the present case the subject matter was virtually thrust at the author by his chance acquaintanceship with Culcheth's poor law papers the bulk of which, having been discovered in an attic, passed into his custody in 1965 to be dried out and sorted. The surprising volume of bastardy papers and account books led to a perusal of the parish registers and to the discovery of an illegitimacy ratio sometimes exceeding 30% of registered births.

This was sufficiently odd to warrant further investigation, although four years elapsed before the author was in a position to embark on the task ... [see pdf file for full abstract].

Authors: Gandy, G; Gandy, G. N.

• Alternative title: fertility patterns in Culcheth, Lancs., 1781-1860
• Publication date: 1979
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Subjects: Employees; Fertility, Human; Great Britain; England; Culcheth (England); Handloom industry; Illegitimacy; Culcheth; History