Straw Plait Dealers in 1851
The following is an extract from the 1851 Post Office Court and Trade Directory for the counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey & Sussex
available on CD from Archive CD Books
The above list shows that the straw plait trade was highly localised and the dealers are virtually confined to the Chiltern Hills and the chalk area to the south - the majority being in and around St Albans. An examination of a Bedfordshire directory of a similar date would reveal a large number just north of the Hertfordshire border in Luton.
It has been possible to locate a number of these in the published transcripts (Berkhamsted area & St Albans area) of the 1851 census:
|
Amsden, Benjamin |
St Peters Street, St Albans |
Straw hat manufacturer |
|
Chappin, William |
Park Street, Tring |
Straw manufacturer employing 3 men and 34 women |
|
Figg, William |
Wilstone, Tring |
Straw dealer |
|
Fleet, Thomas |
White House, Aylesbury Road, Tring |
Straw plait dealer |
|
Lines, Ketturah (widow) |
Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead |
Straw plait dealer |
|
Lines, Thomas |
Wilstone, Tring |
Plait dealer |
|
Ludlam, Thomas T |
Old London Road, St Albans |
Straw hat manufacturer |
|
Osborn, Thomas H |
Old London Road, St Albans |
Bonnet trimming manufacturer |
|
Richardson, Thomas |
St Peters Street, St Albans |
Straw hat manufacturer, Justice of Peace |
|
Slade, George |
London Road, St Albans |
Bonnet trimming manufacturer |
|
Waddington, Joseph |
Spencer Street, St Albans |
Straw bonnet manufacturer |
|
Walker, James |
Old London Road, St Albans |
Dealer |
|
Walker, William |
Turnpike Road, Harpenden |
Straw bonnet manufacturer |
|
Wingrave, John |
Verulam Road, St Albans |
Straw manufacturer |
|
Wingrave, Joseph |
Fishpool Street, St Albans |
Straw plait merchant |
For more about straw plaiting see The History of Straw Plait in Hertfordshire
If you can add to the information given above tell me.