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Trade and Employment
Trade and Employment
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Kingston's Market Place was for centuries the commercial heart of the Town and the pattern of the surrounding streets and buildings was established by traders encroaching on the original Market Place. Once the pattern was established it altered very little over the centuries. Markets were originally confined to specific days of the week but were later held on all weekdays.
Kingston has an unusual charter granted by King Charles I in 1628. It states that no other place can set up a market within 7 miles of the town, thus giving Kingston a monoploy in the area. We have evidence that Kingston enforced this charter.
Trading Companies
The right to trade on days other than official market days was originally restricted to members of the four local trading companies: Woollendrapers (dyeing, weaving and tailoring), Mercers (grocers, barbers, bakers and fishers), Shoemakers (also called Cordwainers) and Butchers. It is not known when these guilds were founded but Ordinances governing their regulation exist from 1580. The Companies appeared to look after 'their own' in times of need. For example in 1698 a loan of forty shillings was agreed to be paid to John Saunders, a butcher to be repaid when 'he was able'. Please see below for documents:
Loan to a butcher, 1698 (document reference KB20/2/2). pdf
Transcript of document reference KB20/2/2
Grant of toleration to trade (document reference KB19/2/4).pdf
Transcript of document reference KB19/2/4
Traders were enrolled as freemen of one of the four companies having first served as an apprentice or by right of being sons of freemen. After 7 years as an apprentice and on payment to the guild warden, the new freemen could set up business and would be able to vote for office holders.
Those who did business in Kingston either belonged to a trading company or paid for a trade 'toleration' (permission to trade'). The Court of Assembly granted these tolerations and served warning notices on those who were trading illegally. Please see below for documents:
Warning to non freeman not to trade (document reference KB20/1/2).pdf
Apprenticeships
From the 17th through to the19th Century apprenticeships provided one of the few ways of training for a reasonably secure job. One of the main ways of becoming a freeman was by serving an apprenticeship. This way a son of a freeman, or a gentleman, or a pauper from the workhouse could enter any of the trades practiced in Kingston. An apprenticeship would usually last seven years during which time the child was bound to the master. A premium would be paid to the master but once he took on an apprentice he was responsible for the apprentice's upkeep. The apprentice would shadow the master, learn his trade and skills and at the end of seven years could set up business. Kingston kept a register of apprentices which tells us all about the responsibilities and rights of both master and apprentice. Please see below for documents:
Apprenticeship of a poor child in 1702 (document reference KG3/5/1).pdf
Transcript of document KG3/5/1
Apprenticeships registered in 1581(document reference KB11/1/1).pdf
Transcript from document reference KB11/1/1: entries for 1581
Apprenticeships registerd in 1711 (document reference KB11/1/1). pdf
Transcript of document reference KB11/1/1: entries for 1711
Fairs
Fairs played an important part in the trade of the town. Three main fairs, granted by royal charter were held in Kingston at specific times of the year. For example, in 1556 Mary I (Mary Tudor) and her husband King Philip of Spain, granted to Kingston the right to hold a fair every July. Many people came from far away. Inevitably there were disturbances and Kingston had the right to hold a special court to try offenders such as pickpockets and thieves. We don't know whether the right was ever exercised as no records of this court survive. Please see below for further information:
Extract from charter of King Philip and Queen Mary Tudor, 1556 (document reference KB1/20). pdf
Transcript of charter extract (document reference KB1/20)
Industries
As the centuries passed and Kingston grew in size its importance as a trading town grew. It is known that the town was manufacturing its own 'Surrey Whiteware' pottery by the late 1200s and by the early 1500s its proximity to Hampton Court meant it could supply craft and trades people needed to maintain and supply the Palace. Kingston's considerable pottery industry was a major supplier to London in the Middle Ages. Please see industry information for examples.
Brewing and tanning were well established by the 16th Century as significant industries. Milling was important too and 5 mills are mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. Fishing, boatbuilding and brickmaking were also important and retailing began its long march to the prominence it holds today. The coaching trade gave custom to the many inns and taverns in the Town.
Cesar Picton's story is a remarkable one. Brought from Senegal in 1761 at the age of 6 to be servant to Sir John Philipps of Norbiton, he becomes a successful coalmerchant and business man with property on Kingston's profitable river front. Please see Cesar Picton's story for further information.
The aircraft industry was just one of a number of industries that later grew up around the Kingston area. Today, the Town's economy is centred around retail, offices and leisure provision. In return, Kingston's schools, further education and University are providing the workforce with different skills and qualifications.