Where Beards Wag All, the Relevance of the Oral Tradition

A Genealogical Investigation of the Suffolk Seasonal Maltster Migration in 19th Century Burton upon Trent

“…2 On the other hand, in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, due to the estimated threefold expansion of the brewing industry from 1850 to 1880, resulting in an estimated 8,235 workers by 1888, 3 there was an increased need for temporary, skilled maltster labour during the barley malting period 4 , which ran from September to May each year, conveniently dovetailing with England's summer farming season. 5 The long-distance Suffolk to Burton seasonal migration was thought to have started around 1860, building on established economic links barleygrowing farmers in Suffolk delivering barley supplies to Burton brewers. Railway developments in the East of England brought further business opportunities, although who had initiated the partnership had not previously been established.…”

“…Although the commercial brewing process remained 'relatively unchanged until the late-nineteenth century,' 23 its huge comparative growth and overcapacity in production in Burton meant there was a continuing need for the barley supplies, along with men to work it into malt. Surviving Burton brewery maltster employee evidence for the 19 th Century is limited 24 but Owen 25 fortuitously transcribed the names of 125 East Anglian migrant employees of Bass in 1890/91 before the labour books were destroyed by the company c.1986, also enabling Evans 26 to publish the details of their names, home village and nearest railway station, which helps in identifying Suffolk workers. Owen estimated that 75% of 3-400 total East Anglian maltsters working in Burton during the malting season in the mid-1890s were from Suffolk, implying 225-300 men, a figure unconfirmed before this research.…”