ABSTRACT

Prices are for Deptford/Woolwich till 1690 with insertions from Chatham in 1655 and 1657. Deptford/ Woolwich was supplied irregularly between 1691 and 1720 but Chatham fairly regularly. Prices from the two sources cannot be used together at this time as they are on different levels, from 1705 at least. The series is therefore continued by Chatham from 1691, without insertion from other ports till 1785. From this date, when contracts only are available, none are given for Chatham. Those for Deptford/Woolwich are interpolated for Chatham in the ratio of prices in 1767-74 (viz. 8s. per C at Chatham, 10s. at Deptford/Woolwich) and printed with a warning. I t should be noted, however, that while Chatham prices remain rigid at 8s. per C, in 1715-52 those for Deptford/ Woolwich fall gradually from 7s. to 5.20s. In 1764, however, (after a gap of 7 years), Deptford/Woolwich prices rise by 92% to a higher level than Chatham.