From analysis of the census we know that there were 194 people aged 70+ living in Uttoxeter (87 men and 107 women) in 1851. This equates to 4% of the total population of 4,815. Today the over-70s form 14% of the population of 13,467 – this demonstrates not only the increase in the proportion of elderly people but also the growth of the town as a whole from several phases of house building – in the Victorian age, throughout the 20th century and up to the current day.
Where and how did the mid 19th-century elderly people live?
Out of a total of 1,023 households in Uttoxeter, 154 included people over 70. More than half of the over-70s were living in their own homes and defined themselves as Head of Household (60 men and 49 women). Many of these had a spouse and other family members living with them. Only 15% of over-70s were living on their own. Many elderly people were living with their families in households headed by other family members. Twelve lived with households other than their families, as lodgers. Two people were lodging house keepers themselves.
Ten people were living on income from house or land ownership; eighteen were receiving annuities or interest from investments. There were five Chelsea pensioners. From 1692 until 1955, all Army pensions were administered by and paid from the Royal Hospital Chelsea; hence all recipients, wherever they lived, were referred to as Chelsea Pensioners.
Eleven widows were living in the almshouses in Carter Street. By this time the Uttoxeter Charities Committee had taken over the administration of the charities in the town. Katherine Mastergent’s bequest from 1646 to house three widows of “honest and religious conversation” was amalgamated with John Wright’s bequest and a new almshouse was erected in Carter Street bearing their names. The Lathropp’s Almshouses were also rebuilt in 1849 on the opposite side of Carter Street to house four widows.
For the less fortunate there was always the Workhouse on the Heath. Nine men and six women over 70 were living in the Workhouse, representing 12% of all Workhouse residents.
Some census respondents defined themselves by their occupation. From the census it is impossible to tell whether they were still working or whether they were listing their earlier occupation. Those like William Smith, the saddler who employed three men, or Thomas Alport, the shoemaker who employed two men, were presumably working in a supervisory capacity. At a time when there was no state pension it was quite likely that those living in their own homes with no family support would have needed to keep working. Two people over 80 described themselves as “servants” to the head of household.
As might be expected, most people fell into the 70–79 age group; there were 32 octogenarians (17 men, 15 women) and only four over the age of 90 – Samuel Chawner and Martha Barlow were 90, Elizabeth Roger and Mary Rotherham were both 92.
Sources
P M Turner, The Uttoxeter Charities 1594–1853 (Unpublished Study)
1851 census for Uttoxeter
Local History Lab 