What Price a Loaf of Bread?
1799-1814 in the UK
by Edgar Lawrence, UK
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One of the problems facing the Quartermaster of a Militia regiment during the constant moving around of the Regiments was the provision of food. Especially bread. The arrival of several hundred men, just for one night- could double, or even treble the population of a small village. This could lead to problems for the local baker. And so the supply of bread and other provisions had to be very carefully organised. The problem was also exacerbated by the variations in the costs, both day to day, and place to place. I have taken from the history of the 1st Devon Militia the following figures. June 1779. 4lb loaf, 4 pence and five eighths, each loaf to last a soldier four days. Quartermaster to pay after each 4th delivery or 16 days. Money to be stopped from soldiers pay. June 1794. A contract has been made with Mr Urch, baker, to furnish a shilling loaf for eleven pence, and a sixpence loaf for fivepence halfpenny. The bread will be delivered every four days. June 1795. Soldiers undergoing punishment in the 'Black Hole' on bread and water, are to receive 2 penny worth of bread and a proportional quantity of water for twenty-four hours. December 1800. Because of the failure of the harvest, the following instructions on type of flour to be uses for bread were issued by an Act of 31st December. "no person was allowed to bake for private use, or expose for sale, or sell any bread made from wheaten meal or flour unmixed of any finer sort or description than what should be dressed, bolted, or manufactured by or through wire machines constructed with not more than thirteen wires of the usual or known size, weight and thickness on each side of a square inch, or cloths corresponding to such wire machines and now usually called and known as eight shilling and sixpenny seamed cloths, or patent cloths denominated number two" and contractors were ordered to supply bread made in this manner instead of being dressed through a twelve shilling cloth. March 1801. Riots were happening all over the country as the price of grain increased. On the 21st farmers were made to agree to sell at 12 shillings per bushel. But on the 28th there were riots in Plymouth market because the price being asked was 46 shillings a bushel. The Riot Act was read and the 1st Devon and the Wiltshire Militia were called out, and 4 light 9 pounders and 2 howitzers were loaded with grape and canister to disperse the mob. In Brixham the riots were lead by the local. Volunteers orchestrated by, their officers. 1804. Prices for a loaf of bread in the western counties was:
A big variation, the January price in Cornwall being more than double the July price in Devon. April 1808. Prices of the main cereal crop requirements.
I don't dare ask why the price of dung was included in the price of bread etc. or what it was used for August 1812. Bread at the Royal Military Asylum Chelsea. 10 14/16d per 4 lb loaf April 1813. Bread 4 lb loaf Devon 11 1/4d Cornwall Is 1 3/4d Somerset Is 5p April 1814. Bread 4 lb loaf Gloucester 6 22/32d, Worcester 10d, Hereford 12d, Monmouth 914/32d, South Wales 13d, Devon73/32d, Somerset 7 29/32d, Wilts914/32d. So the price of bread varied from County to County, and day to day, making it very difficult to work out the cost of rations. Not only bread but the price of meat and vegetables varied just as much. Little wonder that the Contractors and Quartermasters were in constant dispute over what was owed. And it didn't help that the money had to come from the Paymaster General at Horse Guards. Various expedients were tried, bank notes were cut 'in two and sent by post, (presumably to be put back together again on receipt). Receivers of Taxes were asked to cash Paymaster's Bills, but the Receivers frequently did not have enough money, for the purpose. The sums involved were very large, for example, the pay roll bill for the month of 25th January to 24th February 1799 for the 1st Devon's was £2222 6s 11 3/4d. And this did not include any stores or food! So what price a loaf of bread, and who would want to be a Quartermaster or Contractor. Although with the varying prices, and the time between raising a bill and being paid it was easy to fiddle the books. Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #52 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com |