Parish Accounts for the "town" of Bodicote, Oxfordshire, 1700-1822
Written by Eng Bodicote
168 pages, about 3 hours of reading
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About this book
This work by Bodicote, Eng offers readers a unique literary experience. The narrative explores themes of history.
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Themes, characters and key ideas in Parish Accounts for the "town" of Bodicote, Oxfordshire, 1700-1822, written by Chaptra AI.
- about 20 hours
- advanced
- informative
- historical
- factual
This 'book' is a meticulous compilation of the financial and administrative records for the parish of Bodicote, Oxfordshire, spanning 122 years from 1700 to 1822. Rather than a narrative, it serves as a primary historical source, detailing the income and expenditure related to parish functions, particularly poor relief, church maintenance, and local governance. It offers an invaluable window into the socio-economic conditions, administrative practices, and daily life of a rural English community during the Georgian and early Regency periods. The accounts provide concrete data for understanding local history, demography, and the evolving responsibilities of parish officers.
“"Paid for a quarters pay for Old Widow Smith - 0.05.00"”
Key themes
- Social Welfare and Poor Relief
- The accounts predominantly feature entries related to the administration of the Poor Laws, detailing payments to individuals, provision of housing, clothing, medical care, and burial costs for the indigent. This theme explores the mechanisms of community support, the extent of poverty, and the parish's role as the primary welfare institution before 1834.
- Local Governance and Administration
- This theme examines the practicalities of local administration through the lens of parish officers' duties. It encompasses the collection of rates, management of parish property, enforcement of local order (via constables), and the overall financial oversight of community affairs, revealing the decentralized nature of governance at the time.
- Economic Life of an Agrarian Parish
- The accounts inadvertently paint a picture of the local economy. Entries detail prices for goods and services (e.g., bread, coal, building materials, labor), types of trades active in the community (carpenters, masons, blacksmiths), and the financial impact of agricultural cycles or broader economic fluctuations on parish resources and the need for relief.
Worth discussing
What do these accounts reveal about the daily struggles and economic realities of the poor in Bodicote during this period?
Chapter-by-chapter breakdowns, character arcs and the full thematic analysis come with a free account.
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