The Tailor

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Lore & Background

The 1851 Census for Tetsworth recorded a tailor as one of the village's tradesmen, listed among 5 butchers and grocers, a baker, 7 milliners and dressmakers, a hairdresser, a shoemaker, 4 wheelwrights, 2 blacksmiths, a saddler, a harnessmaker, and a joiner. This census snapshot shows that while Tetsworth was primarily agricultural, it supported a diverse range of skilled craftspeople. The tailor's work would have been essential for producing and repairing clothing for the local population of about 481 people living in 108 houses at that time, as recorded in the 1870-72 Imperial Gazetteer.

In Their Own Story

By the time of the 1851 Census, Tetsworth's tailor was one of several tradesmen serving a village that had experienced poverty in the early 19th century but was regaining some prosperity. The village's population had grown to around 500 by the mid-1850s, and the tailor would have been busy clothing the residents. The Imperial Gazetteer of 1870-72 noted that Tetsworth also carried on a manufacture of pillow lace, indicating a broader textile tradition in the community. The tailor's shop likely stood among the 108 houses recorded, providing essential garments for daily life and work.

Reader's Guide

To understand the tailor's place in Tetsworth, consider the village's economic context. The 1851 Census shows a tailor working alongside other tradesmen, including milliners and dressmakers, suggesting a local clothing industry. The village's primary school, established by 1847, and its church, rebuilt in 1855, indicate a settled community that would have required regular clothing services. The tailor would have relied on local materials, possibly from the agricultural enterprises noted in the 2019 Council report, which included equestrian and agricultural businesses. The village's population fluctuated from about 500 in the mid-1850s to under 300 by 1931, before rising to about 700 by the 2011 Census, reflecting changing demand for the tailor's services over time.

Did You Know?

• The 1851 Census for Tetsworth recorded a tailor among the village's tradesmen, alongside 5 butchers and grocers, a baker, 7 milliners and dressmakers, a hairdresser, and a shoemaker.
• Tetsworth's population in the mid-1850s was about 500 people, living in 108 houses according to the 1870-72 Imperial Gazetteer.
• The village also had a manufacture of pillow lace, as noted in the 1870-72 Imperial Gazetteer, indicating a broader textile tradition.
• By 1931, Tetsworth's population had dropped to under 300, before increasing to about 700 by the 2011 Census.
• The 1851 Census showed that Tetsworth had 4 wheelwrights, 2 blacksmiths, a saddler, a harnessmaker, and a joiner, alongside the tailor.