ABSTRACT
43 WINCHESTER COLLEGE quantity). The butcher’s contracts in 1721-70 stipulated the free delivery of 1,600 lb. tallow to the chandler. I t is evident that a similar agreement held good in 1658-1713 (though £6 13s. 4d. was paid for tallow supplied during the plague year 1665 when little meat was bought). Hence in this period the price of candles can only be estimated for 1714-20. To estimate tallow at the same price as beef and mutton would be misleading, as the price of meat was affected by the free delivery of tallow. In 1728 (Mar.)– 1737 (Feb.) £20 annually was allowed to the butcher because of the dearness of meat. This has been treated as equivalent to the cost of 1,600 lb. tallow at the current price for beef and mutton. The cost of making was still 1.50s. per doz. lb. in 1714-38 but with an additional 1s. per doz. lb. for duty. From 1737 at latest all candles were made with cotton wick. The cost of making including duty and wick1 was 3s. per doz. lb. in 1771-81 and 3.50s. in 1786. It is assumed that the increase was made after the additional tax of 6d. per doz. lb. levied in August 1784, and 3.50s. per doz. lb. for making has been assumed to operate from 1784. Tallow was again charged for in 177186 but from 1788 onwards the butcher no longer delivered any, and candles were bought outright from the chandler, at first at fixed rates but later at market prices.
