Newspaper readership in south west England:
an analysis of the Flindell's Western Luminary subscribers list of 1815.
Table 1. Occupations
| 1. Social groups | |
| Nobility | 10 |
| [N.B. 9 Lords, 3 Ladies] | |
| Gentry | 83 |
| Farmers | 7 |
| Yeomen | 3 |
| Women (undifferentiated) | 120 |
| Dowagers | 1 |
| Naval widows | 1 |
| [N.B. 99 Mrs 48 Misses 3 Ladies] | |
| 2. Office holders | |
| Members of Parliament | 13 |
| Counsellors | 2 |
| Customs officers | 12 |
| Quay masters | 1 |
| Port officials | 1 |
| Assay masters | 1 |
| Stamp offices | 1 |
| Officials | 1 |
| Clerks | 1 |
| 3. The Church | 149 (8.8%) |
| [N.B. 155 Revs] | |
| Clergy (undifferentiated) | 56 |
| Bishops | 1 |
| Subdeans | 1 |
| Rectors | 56 |
| Vicars | 26 |
| Curates | 8 |
| Dissenting ministers | 1 |
| 4. Armed services | 94 (5.5%) |
| Army officers | 65 |
| Naval officers | 25 |
| Naval pursers | 1 |
| Marines | 3 |
| 5. The Law | 60 (3.5%) |
| Lawyers (undifferentiated) | 1 |
| Attorneys | 47 |
| Solocitors | 7 |
| Barristers | 1 |
| Magistrates | 2 |
| Conveyancers | 1 |
| Scriveners | 1 |
| 6. Medicine | 52 (3.1%) |
| Medical doctors | 6 |
| Surgeons | 32 |
| Physicians | 5 |
| Apothecaries | 3 |
| Chemists | 2 |
| Druggists | 4 |
| 7. Education | 39 (2.3%) |
| Teachers | 21 |
| Music masters | 2 |
| Musicians | 1 |
| Students | 15 |
| [N.B. University students and teachers are difficult to differentiate] | |
| 8. Public places | 108 (6.4%) |
| Inns | 82 |
| Hotels | 5 |
| Public houses | 1 |
| Coffee houses | 5 |
| Public rooms | 5 |
| Billiard rooms | 1 |
| Theatre managers | 1 |
| Reading rooms | 1 |
| Libraries | 7 |
| 9. Book trade | 46 (2.7%) |
| Printers | 21 |
| Booksellers | 15 |
| Stationers | 3 |
| Newspapers | 2 |
| Newspaper agents | 2 |
| Papermakers | 3 |
| 10. Communications and transport | |
| Postmasters | 7 |
| Coach proprietors | 1 |
| Waggon masters | 1 |
| Drivers | 1 |
| Coachmakers | 1 |
| Shipwrights | 2 |
| 11. Finance and general tradesmen | |
| Merchants | 39 |
| Brokers | 3 |
| Salesmen | 1 |
| Shopkeepers | 1 |
| Pawnbrokers | 2 |
| Chandlers | 1 |
| Auctioneers | 3 |
| Bankers | 21 |
| Insurance agents | 3 |
| 12. Agriculture and estates | |
| [N.B. see 1. above for gentry etc] | |
| Surveyors | 3 |
| Land surveyors | 1 |
| Land agents | 1 |
| Gardeners | 1 |
| Nurserymen | 1 |
| 13. Food and drink | |
| Butchers | 4 |
| Bakers | 2 |
| Grocers | 9 |
| Millers | 4 |
| Oat merchants | 1 |
| Tea dealers | 1 |
| Victuallers | 1 |
| Brewers | 6 |
| Hop merchants | 1 |
| Maltsters | 5 |
| Porter merchants | 1 |
| Wine merchants | 4 |
| Vintners | 1 |
| Spirit merchants | 3 |
| Tobacconists | 1 |
| 14. Building industries & trades | |
| Architects | 1 |
| Brick merchants | 1 |
| Slate merchants | 1 |
| Timber merchants | 1 |
| Builders | 4 |
| Masons | 1 |
| Statuary | 1 |
| Slaters | 1 |
| Carpenters | 1 |
| Sawyers | 1 |
| Joiners | 1 |
| Glaziers | 1 |
| Cabinet makers | 2 |
| 15. Textile & leather industries & trades | |
| Clothiers | 1 |
| Drapers | 1 |
| Linen drapers | 1 |
| Mercers | 5 |
| Haberdashers | 3 |
| Milliners | 1 |
| Tailors | 4 |
| Stocking makers | 1 |
| Hairdressers | 3 |
| Wool factors | 1 |
| Wool staplers | 1 |
| Woollen makers | 1 |
| Fullers | 1 |
| Serge makers | 2 |
| Hot pressers | 1 |
| Serge merchants | 1 |
| Sailmakers | 1 |
| Rope makers | 1 |
| Brush makers | 1 |
| Fellmongers | 1 |
| Tanners | 1 |
| Curriers | 1 |
| Shoemakers | 3 |
| Sadlers | 5 |
| Cordwainers | 1 |
| 16. Metals, ceramics, minerals, chemicals | |
| China warehouse | 1 |
| Staffordshire warehouse | 1 |
| Glass dealers | 1 |
| Ironmongers | 7 |
| Blacksmiths | 1 |
| Silversmiths | 1 |
| Watchmakers | 1 |
| Pewterers | 1 |
| Machine makers | 1 |
| Perfumers | 1 |
| Soap makers | 1 |
| Tallowchandlers | 4 |
| Mine owners | 4 |
| Coal dealers | 2 |
| Lime burners | 1 |
Page last updated 29 Jan 2007
© Ian Maxted, 2001