Social class structure in St Neots
In the 19th century there was a fairly rigid class structure which did not change much until after World War One (1914 – 1918).
Aristocracy
Upper Class
Upper Middle Class
Middle Class
Lower Middle Class
Lower Class
There were some minor power and status struggles between classes and although it was possible to progress up the social hierarchy it was uncommon.
In the time of Queen Victoria the rules were a lot clearer and people at least knew their position in society. They knew where to find their friends, who to marry, where to find help if they were in trouble and where to find charity.
Marriage out of one’s class was almost unknown. Aristocrats were the exception, often ‘marrying beneath them’ - rich American heiresses from the merchant class.
Aristocracy
The local aristocrats were the Earls of Sandwich of Hinchingbrooke House and the Dukes of Manchester at Kimbolton. For a short time there was also Lord Esme Gordon at Paxton Park.
The former two dominated political power in all South Huntingdonshire but this was ended by the Reform Act of 1832. This gave power to Town Commissioners chosen from the Upper Middle Classes.
Lord Sandwich was Lord of the Manor in St Neots. He owned the market and property around the Market Square, appointed the rector of St Mary’s Church and owned much land and property in St Neots’ parish including Manor Farm. As such he was a major employer and people’s livelihood depended almost solely on him. He had a land agent who dealt with all his rents, employment and wages.
In 1848 he sold most his St Neots’ property to the Rowley family. They built Priory Hill House and, after the parish Enclosure Act, developed Priory Park.
The Dukes of Manchester had little influence in St Neots. They used to be involved in the Hunt which met on the Market Square. Their guests included royalty and distinguished political and aristocratic figures. They used to come by train to St Neots and do their shopping in town. Their extravagances, near bankruptcies and marriages to American heiresses provided plenty of gossip.
Lord Esme Gordon of Paxton Park got involved in field sports and was patron of many sports clubs in the town.
Upper Class
The Rowleys of Priory Hill were the most important. They put pressure on the railway board not to allow the railway to go through their land. This explains why the railway station is a mile (1.6km.) east of the Market Square. They were involved in local government, the administration of justice and the welfare of St Mary’s Church. There were many cases of local people poaching on their estate and trespassing which involved legal claims over public rights of way.
Other squires were the Reynolds of Paxton Hall. Some members of this family lived in St Neots and were involved in local businesses. Captain (later Lieutenant-Colonel) Humbley of Cressener House was the Lord of Eynesbury Manor. Francis Pym of Sandy was an absentee landlord. The Stanley family at Paxton Park and the Alingtons of Little Barford were local employers on their farms but took little part in town life except as patrons of sport.
Upper Middle Class
Prosperous and quite wealthy merchants, brewers and manufacturers were numerous in St Neots because of the market and wharves which helped their trade. The railway line helped too. Most owned land and property which they rented out. Some were engaged in banking and farming. In the 18th century the upper middle classes were the Wye (grocer, tallow chandler and brickmaker), Bainton (draper), Hatley (property owner), Bailey (property owner), Billet (property owner), and Fowley (farmer and brewer)families. In the first half of the 19th century they were the Ingersole (grocer, corn merchant and wine merchant), Rix (merchant, banker), Foster (merchant, brewer and banker) and Stevens (wool staplers)families. In the latter half it was the Paines (brewers), Days (brewers and brickmakers) and Toogoods (Paper millowners).
Their houses and offices were mainly on the south side of the Market Square but in the second half of the 19th century a number moved away to large houses in the town or nearby which they surrounded with spacious lawns, gardens and greenhouses. They needed to employ a large number of domestic servants, garders, grooms etc. In the summer some allowed their gardens to be used for fetes and school treats.
The Town Commissioners came from this class. When the democratically elected Local Board, and later the Urban District Council were set up, they did not stand for office.
Middle class
There were also professional people like doctors, lawyers and vicars. Nearly all had university education and, with the squires, formed the basis of the town’s intellectual life. Most of them supported the Tory (Conservative) party.
Lower middle class
This group consisted of mainly shopkeepers and small business men ranging from craftsmen with one or more apprentices or assistants to the builder with a dozen labourers; from the one man shopkeeper to the large shop keeper with a dressmaking establishment.
Clerks and office managers were in this class. Most supported the Liberal political party because they wanted reforms, changes in the laws. A number of them became members of the Local Board and Urban District Council. However, they did not want to spend the town rates on improvements like sewerage and water supplies.
Lower (working) class
Wage earners, both skilled and unskilled were in this class, like office staff, apprentices, assistants, domestic staff. Factory, workshop and agricultural labourers. Security of employment was poor. Skilled workers were often given only a week’s notice. Labourers were paid by the hour and could get an hour’s notice.
Unskilled wages were just above starvation level. All family members had to work and they could easily be evicted from their rented cottage if they failed to pay the rent or were not seen at church on Sundays.
Alcoholism was widespread. With so many inns and beer-houses which had long opening hours many men spent much of their earnings. Wives and children used to wait outside work on Friday pay night to get some of the money for the weekly budget.
There were also ballad mongers and street pedlars. One sold soft river water on washing day, one tarred water butts, another carried washing but many sold pies, bloaters, herrings, rabbits, cows’ heels, childrens’ toys and muffins. Some pedlars made enough money to buy premises like the Wren family’s fish shop and John Franks who set up a furniture shop.
The really poor and infirm had to go to the workhouse.
Source: Tebbutt, C. F. (1978), St Neots – History of a Huntingdonshire Town, Unwin Brothers, pp.14-21