Ingenious Trade: Women and Work in Seventeenth-Century London

Ingenious Trade explores the lives of young women who came to London in the late seventeenth century to earn their own living, using legal records and guild archives to reconstruct their negotiations with city regulations and bureaucracy. It shows how single women, wives, and widows established themselves in guilds, creating a network that extended from elites to paupers and around the country.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 285 pages
Publication date: 02 November 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Ingenious Trade delves into the captivating narratives of young women who ventured to London in the late seventeenth century, driven by the desire to secure their livelihoods, often through skilled needlework. By meticulously tracing these women through city archives, the book unveils the intricate details of their contracts, training, and skills, spanning from adolescence to old age. This groundbreaking work stands in stark contrast to the informal, unstructured, and often marginalized aspects of women's work. Instead, it utilizes legal records and guild archives to reconstruct women's negotiations with city regulations and bureaucracy. Through this comprehensive archival reconstruction, Laura Gowing reclaims the profound significance of apprenticeship in the lives of girls and women, placing their work at the forefront of the revolutionary transformation in worldly goods.

The late seventeenth century witnessed a significant influx of young women to London, driven by the pursuit of economic independence. These women, known as needlewomen, sought opportunities to earn a living, often through skilled needlework. Their journey to the city was marked by a range of challenges, including discrimination, limited access to education, and societal expectations. However, they persevered, determined to make a mark in a male-dominated society.

Ingenious Trade sheds light on the lives of these needlewomen and the mistresses who established shops and supervised their apprenticeships. By meticulously tracking women through city archives, the book reveals the extent and complexity of their contracts, training, and skills. It explores the various stages of their careers, from adolescence to old age, and highlights the diverse range of experiences they encountered.

One of the key findings of Ingenious Trade is the extent and complexity of women's negotiations with city regulations and bureaucracy. The book demonstrates how single women, wives, and widows established themselves in guilds, both alongside and separate to men. This network extended from elites to paupers and across the country, creating a vibrant and interconnected community of skilled artisans.

Through an intensive and creative archival reconstruction, Laura Gowing recovers the significance of apprenticeship in the lives of girls and women. She highlights how apprenticeships provided valuable training and skills, enabling women to become independent and successful in their chosen professions. The book also sheds light on the social and economic implications of women's work, emphasizing how it contributed to the growth of the urban economy and the development of new consumer goods.

Ingenious Trade is a groundbreaking work that offers a fresh perspective on the lives of women in the late seventeenth century. It challenges traditional narratives and sheds light on the hidden histories of ordinary women who played a vital role in shaping the world around them. By reclaiming the significance of apprenticeship and women's work, the book contributes to our understanding of the revolution in worldly goods and the broader social and economic changes of the period.

In conclusion, Ingenious Trade is a must-read for anyone interested in women's history, social history, and the history of the early modern period. It provides a rich and detailed account of the lives of needlewomen and their mistresses, and sheds light on the complex negotiations and challenges they faced. Through an intensive and creative archival reconstruction, Laura Gowing reclaims the significance of apprenticeship and women's work, placing them at the heart of the revolutionary transformation in worldly goods.

Weight: 428g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108707701