This excellent reference page appears at: (http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~alan/family/N-Money.html)
Many thanks to Alan M Stanier for permission to copy 1 Jul 2004.


Relative Value of Sums of Money

There are problems in comparing the relative value of sums of money at different dates. Indicators of relative value must assume some standard "basket of goods", with weightings for expenditure on various items. With different purchasing patterns between individuals, and changing purchase patterns over time, any such assumption is questionable.

Mitchell, 1988 contains a survey of several estimates of comparative value in the period 1316 - 1980. The Retail Prices Index since 1914 has been published by the Government Statistical Service.

One possible indicator is the time needed for someone in a given job to earn a given amount. The following tables may be useful:-


1264 - 1954

Daily Money Wage Rates of Building Craftsmen and Labourers in Southern England

Source: Brown and Hopkins, 1955
The figures given are in old pence, at 240 to the pound sterling.
Figures are per day up to 1846, and per 10 hours subsequently.

DateCraftsLabs DateCraftsLabs DateCraftsLabs
1264-13003 1710-302215 191485
1300-043 to 3½ 1730-3622 to 2415 to 16 19159065
1301-501½ to 2 1736-732416 19169373
1304-08 1773-7624 to 2916 to 19 191710383
1308-113½ to 4 1776-912919 191812095
1311-374 1791-9319 to 22 1919170140
1337-403 to 4 1791-9629 to 36 1920240210
1340-503 1793-9822 1921205165
1350-603 to 5 1796-180236 1922-23165125
1350-711½ to 3 1799-180223 1924-29180138
1360-14025 1802-0636 to 4323 to 29 1930175133
1371-14023 1806-094329 1931-32170128
1402-125 to 63 to 4 1810-464832 1933-34165125
1412-15326 1847-524933 1935175133
1412-15454 1853-6054 1936180135
1532-486 to 7 1853-6534 1937185140
1545-514 to 6 1861-6456 1938190143
1548-527 to 8 1864-6656 to 64 1939195148
1551-806 to 8 1866-7164 1940210163
1552-618 to 10 186636 1941220173
1561-7310 1867-7138 1942225178
1573-8010 to 12 1871-7364 to 72 1943235185
1580-16268 187242 1944245193
1580-162912 1873-8246 1945255205
1626-398 to 10 1873-9272 1946295238
1629-4212 to 16 1883-8648 1947325260
1639-4610 to 12 188746 1948330265
1642-5516 to 18 1888-9348 1949335275
1646-9312 1893-9875 1950340285
1655-8718 1894-190550 1951370315
1687-170118 to 20 1898-191380 1952400345
1693-170112 to 14 1906-1255 1953420365
1701-1020 to 2214 to 15 1913-1460 1954445390


1710 - 1911

Nominal Annual Earnings for various Occupations in England and Wales

Source: Williamson, 1982
The figures given are in current pounds sterling, and relate to adult males.

Occupation 1710 1737 1755 1781 1797 1805 1810 1815 1819
Agricultural Labourers17.7817.1817.1821.0930.0340.4042.0440.0439.05
General Labourers19.2220.1520.7523.1325.0936.8743.9443.9441.74
Messengers and Porters (exc. govt.)31.1534.7533.9933.5457.6669.4376.0180.6981.35
Government low-wage21.5828.7928.6246.0246.7752.4857.1760.2260.60
Police, Guards, Watchmen13.2826.0525.7648.0847.0451.2667.8969.3469.18
Miners22.4627.7222.9424.3747.7964.9963.2257.8253.37
Government high-wage62.8884.0478.91104.55133.73151.09176.86195.16219.25
Skilled in Shipbuilding36.2637.0038.8245.2651.7151.3255.2559.2057.23
Skilled in Engineering40.7341.5643.6050.8358.0875.8888.2394.9192.71
Skilled in Building Trades28.5029.0830.5135.5740.6455.3066.3566.3563.02
Skilled in Textiles33.5934.2835.9641.9347.9065.1878.2167.6067.60
Skilled in Printing Trades43.2944.1746.3454.0366.6171.1179.2279.2271.14
Clergymen99.6696.8491.90182.65238.50266.42283.89272.53266.55
Solicitors and Barristers113.16178.18231.00242.67165.00340.00447.50447.50447.50
Clerks (exc. govt.)43.6468.2963.62101.57135.26150.44178.11200.79229.64
Surgeons, Medical Officers51.7256.8562.0288.35174.95217.60217.60217.60217.60
Teachers15.7815.0315.9716.5343.2143.2151.1051.1069.35
Engineers, Surveyors131.09122.37137.51170.00190.00291.43305.00337.00326.43
1827 1835 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891 1901 1911
Agricultural Labourers31.0430.0329.0436.0441.0541.5241.9446.1246.96
General Labourers43.6539.2944.8344.1851.4455.8862.6868.9074.04
Messengers and Porters (exc. govt.)84.3987.2088.8882.2187.3497.0589.51101.9785.91
Government low-wage59.0158.7066.4567.1563.7274.6570.4072.2067.95
Police, Guards, Watchmen62.9563.3353.6253.9455.8676.7372.3368.6970.62
Miners54.6156.4155.4462.8966.2059.5882.7589.3783.63
Government high-wage222.95276.42234.87251.33281.02275.29215.01159.63161.61
Skilled in Shipbuilding62.2262.7464.1269.1176.8381.3887.8092.51102.34
Skilled in Engineering80.6977.2684.0588.7794.3896.68107.06116.50125.21
Skilled in Building Trades66.3559.7266.3572.9083.3387.1891.52103.35105.14
Skilled in Textiles58.5064.5658.6463.2682.5585.7793.60101.40108.50
Skilled in Printing Trades70.2370.2374.7274.7279.9286.4290.0492.6697.29
Clergymen254.60258.76267.09272.30293.84315.37336.90238.00206.00
Solicitors and Barristers522.501166.671837.501600.001326.671280.001342.601500.001343.50
Clerks (exc. govt.)240.29269.11235.81248.47268.63286.65268.06286.86229.89
Surgeons, Medical Officers175.20200.92200.92343.00645.40520.29475.47265.39272.75
Teachers69.3581.8981.1193.7697.02120.80133.90147.50176.15
Engineers, Surveyors365.71398.89479.00529.15579.13312.97380.61333.99287.37


1850 - 1914

Average Weekly Cash Wages paid to Ordinary Agricultural Labourers

Source: Dept. of Employment and Productivity, 1981
Figures are given in shillings/pence.
Cash wages exclude extra payments for piecework, hay and corn harvests, overtime, and the value of allowances in kind.

DateWage DateWage DateWage DateWage DateWage
18509/3½ 186211/1 187413/11½ 188613/4 189814/1½
18519/2½ 186311/0 187514/0 188713/2½ 189914/4
18529/3 186411/0½ 187614/1½ 188813/2½ 190014/10
18539/11 186511/3 187714/1½ 188913/4 190114/11
185410/8 186611/6 187814/0½ 189013/6 190214/11½
185510/11½ 186711/11 187913/8½ 189113/9½ 190314/11½
185611/0½ 186812/0 188013/7½ 189213/10 190414/11½
185710/11½ 186911/8½ 188113/7½ 189313/9 190515/0
185810/9½ 187011/10½ 188213/7½ 189413/8 190615/1
185910/8½ 187112/1 188313/8 189513/8½ 191015/4
186010/11 187212/8½ 188413/7½ 189613/9 1914
(June)
16/9
186111/1 187313/4 188513/5½ 189713/10½


1859 - 1861

Average Yearly Wages paid to Domestics

Source: Beeton, 1859-61
THE FOLLOWING TABLE OF THE AVERAGE YEARLY WAGES paid to domestics, with the various members of the household placed in the order in which they are usually ranked, will serve as a guide to regulate the expenditure of an establishment:-
When not found in
Livery.
When found in
Livery.
The House StewardFrom£40 to £80-
The Valet"25 to 50From£20 to £30
The Butler"25 to 50-
The Cook"20 to 40-
The Gardener"20 to 40-
The Footman"20 to 40"15 to 25
The Under Butler"15 to 30"15 to 25
The Coachman-"20 to 35
The Groom"15 to 30"12 to 20
The Under Footman-"12 to 20
The Page or Footboy"8 to 18"6 to 14
The Stableboy"6 to 12-
When no extra
allowance is made for
Tea, Sugar, and Beer.
When an extra
allowance is made for
Tea, Sugar, and Beer.
The HousekeeperFrom£20 to £45From£18 to £40
The Lady's-maid"12 to 25"10 to 20
The Head Nurse"15 to 30"13 to 26
The Cook"14 to 30"12 to 26
The Upper Housemaid"12 to 20"10 to 17
The Upper Laundry-maid"12 to 18"10 to 15
The Maid-of-all-work"9 to 14"7½ to 11
The Under Housemaid"8 to 12"6½ to 10
The Still-room Maid"9 to 14"8 to 12
The Nursemaid"8 to 12"5 to 10
The Under Laundry-maid"9 to 14"8 to 12
The Kitchen-maid"9 to 14"8 to 12
The Scullery-maid"5 to 9"4 to 8

These quotations of wages are those usually given in or near the metropolis; but of course, there are many circumstances connected with locality, and also having reference to the long service on the one hand, or the inexperience on the other, of domestics, which may render the wages still higher or lower than those named above. All the domestics mentioned in the above table would enter into the establishment of a wealthy nobleman. The number of servants, of course, would become smaller in proportion to the lesser size of the establishment; and we may here enumerate a scale of servants suited to various incomes, commencing with-

About £1,000 a year - A cook, upper housemaid, nursemaid, under housemaid, and a man servant.
About £750 a year - A cook, housemaid, nursemaid, and footboy.
About £500 a year - A cook, housemaid, and nursemaid.
About £300 a year - A maid-of-all-work and nursemaid.
About £200 or £150 a year - A maid-of-all-work (and girl occasionally).


1914 - 1980

Average Minimum Wages paid to Ordinary Agricultural Labourers for Basic Hours

Sources: Dept. of Employment and Productivity, 1981 and Lund, 1982
Figures are given in pounds/shillings/pence to 1971, pounds:pence subsequently.
The figures are the national minimum wages under the Corn Production Acts 1917 and 1920, the Corn Production (Repeal) Act 1921, and the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Acts 1924 and 1940. From 1972 they are the statutory minimum for "ordinary" hired regular whole-time men.

DateMin.
Wage
Basic
Hours
DateMin.
Wage
Basic
Hours
Jan 1914 - Dec 1914£0/16/9~58 Oct 1949 - Sep 1950£4/14/047.0
Jul 1918 - May 19191/10/652 Oct 1950 - Sep 19514/19/447.0
May 1919 - Apr 19201/17/10½- Oct 1951 - Sep 19525/8/1½47.0
Apr 1920 - Aug 19202/3/0½- Oct 1952 - Sep 19535/13/9½47.0
Aug 1920 - Aug 19212/6/10½- Oct 1953 - Sep 19546/0/047.0
Oct 1921 - Sep 19221/13/9½49.9 Oct 1954 - Sep 19556/4/1047.0
Oct 1922 - Sep 19231/8/050.7 Oct 1955 - Sep 19566/12/847.0
Oct 1923 - Sep 19241/8/050.7 Oct 1956 - Sep 19577/1/047.0
Oct 1924 - Sep 19251/10/151.0 Oct 1957 - Sep 19587/9/447.0
Oct 1925 - Sep 19261/11/650.1 Oct 1958 - Sep 19597/15/747.0
Oct 1926 - Sep 19271/11/849.9 Oct 1959 - Sep 19607/18/546.4
Oct 1927 - Sep 19281/11/850.2 Oct 1960 - Sep 19618/6/8½46.0
Oct 1928 - Sep 19291/11/850.2 Oct 1961 - Sep 19628/12/746.0
Oct 1929 - Sep 19301/11/850.6 Oct 1962 - Sep 19639/1/946.0
Oct 1930 - Sep 19311/11/7½50.4 Oct 1963 - Sep 19649/9/145.1
Oct 1931 - Sep 19321/11/351.0 Oct 1964 - Sep 19659/18/10½45.0
Oct 1932 - Sep 19331/10/951.1 Oct 1965 - Sep 196610/7/11½44.3
Oct 1933 - Sep 19341/10/850.4 Oct 1966 - Sep 196710/13/1144.0
Oct 1934 - Sep 19351/11/5½50.1 Oct 1967 - Sep 196811/5/1044.0
Oct 1935 - Sep 19361/12/050.6 Jan 1968 - Dec 196811/11/044.0
Oct 1936 - Sep 19371/12/950.3 Jan 1969 - Dec 196912/8/044.0
Oct 1937 - Sep 19381/14/250.2 Jan 1970 - Dec 197013/3/043.1
Oct 1938 - Sep 19391/14/850.2 Jan 1971 - Dec 197114/16/042.0
Oct 1939 - Jul 19401/19/5½50.2 Jan 1972 - Dec 197216:2042.0
Oct 1940 - Sep 19412/8/550.2 Jan 1973 - Dec 197319:5042.0
Oct 1941 - Sep 19422/17/1050.2 Jan 1974 - Dec 197421:8040.1
Oct 1942 - Sep 19433/0/049.9 Jan 1975 - Dec 197528:5040.0
Oct 1943 - Sep 19443/3/11½49.4 Jan 1976 - Dec 197636:5040.0
Oct 1944 - Sep 19453/7/10½49.4 Jan 1977 - Dec 197739:0040.0
Oct 1945 - Sep 19463/12/248.4 Jan 1978 - Dec 197843:0040.0
Oct 1946 - Sep 19474/0/1048.0 Jan 1979 - Dec 197948:5040.0
Oct 1947 - Sep 19484/10/048.0 Jan 1980 - Dec 198058:0040.0
Oct 1948 - Sep 19494/12/2½47.5


Beeton 1859-61
Book of Household Management

Brown and Hopkins 1955
Seven Centuries of Building Wages
Economica , Vol 22

Department of Employment and Productivity 1981
British Labour Statistics: Historical Abstracts, 1886-1968

Lund et al 1982
Wages and Employment in Agriculture: England and Wales, 1960-80
Government Economics Services Working Paper, No 52, March 1982

Mitchell 1988
British Historical Statistics
Cambridge University Press

Williamson 1982
The Structure of Pay in Britain, 1710-
Research in Economic History, 7


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