Cottage Economy

It has to be emphasised that this booklet was first published in 1855, fours years before the famous work of Mrs Beeton. It was aimed at a different audience – Mrs Beeton embracing the new and comparatively wealthy middle class, this for the family of a typical village labourer.

The three main parts of the book are ‘lectures’ given to children at the National School at Westbourne when Augusta was a pupil teacher. A lengthy preface and regular footnotes by the Editor/Vicar/School Head Rev. Henry Garrret Newland are both historically interesting and amusing.

The first lecture sets the scene, assuming a family with four children living (just) on 12 shillings (60p) per week and covering the house, the roles and pig husbandry.

The second lecture deals with clothing the family, and we learn of the vital nature of the Clothing Fund and that good boots are the priority. The stricture that you “MUST NOT RUN INTO DEBT” is the only message in capitals.

In the last lecture ‘Economy’ is defined as the arrangement of household matters and it details a number of cheap and nourishing recipes, with the all-important costings.

The remainder of the booklet gives a wealth of background information: about Augusta, Rev. Newland and the Pitney family history.

COTTAGE ECONOMY