Hopping (1817): number of people employed by Mr. Ellis

Post date: Mar 29, 2012 8:33:45 PM

Extract from Exeter Flying Post 25th September 1817:

HOP INTELLIGENCE, Maidstone, September 18.

Little or no variation since our last in Hops-the Grapes still rather improve. Picking is generally commenced. The Hops do not ran equal to expectation, falling full one-fourth short-the quality and colour are excellent. It has been stated in some of the local Prints, that Mr. Ellis, the great Hop Planter, in this neighbourhood, had employed 2,700 persons for the picking of hops of this year. We have ascertained that the following is pretty nearly the number and distribution of the persons employed by Mr. Ellis at the commencement of the picking: There were at Barming 108 bins, at Farleigh 120 bins, and at Wateringbury 84 bins, 312 bins in all; which, at 9 pickers to a bin, makes a total of 2808 pickers. Besides these there were 312 pole pullers, 52 stewards or measurers, 56 dryers, 24 treaders, 24 boys to fill, 30 extra hands, poke boys, &e. 60 pole stackers, 10 bag makers, 3 men to brew table beer for the persons employed, and 3 beer drawers, making, besides the pickers, 474 persons and a grand total of 3382.