ABSTRACT
The price-relatives at Sandwich for certain articles are each based on isolated entries for an isolated single year in the basic period, namely Candles 6s. per doz. lb. in 1742, Lime 11.50s. per load in 1725, Tiles 25s. per M in 1720. An index base derived for candles by comparison with the Lord Steward’s Department in an overlap of 8 years 1670-80 would be 5.85s. per doz. lb., that is to say, for practical purposes the same. An index base derived for Lime as for Winchester and Eton, by comparison with Office of Works, would be almost identical with that named above, namely 11.51s. in
696 PRICES AND WAGES IN ENGLAND place of 11.50s. per load. For tiles an index base similarly derived would be materially lower than the price at Sandwich in 1720, namely 18-97s. instead of 25s. per M. The index prices at Sandwich are not in themselves unreasonable and it has not appeared justifiable in the circumstances to reject even an isolated actual entry in favour of a derivation. But the resulting price-relatives for tiles should be used with caution.
