The Construction Businesses of Early Modern London
Pre industrial construction enterprises are usually thought to be ‘artisanal’, and the medieval and early modern building trades have been idealised around 'craft skills' since the mid nineteenth century. Records of actual working contractors on major infrastructure projects and housing development contradict these embedded ideals however. This paper describes the way in which early modern building contractors, a surprising number of them female, managed projects, competed for business, utilised and organised labour and supply chains, and ran profitable enterprises, which delivered the technologically enduring legacy of the late seventeenth century built environment.
Judy Stephenson is an economic historian researching labour markets, institutions, firms, finance and industries in London between about 1600 and 1850. She is known for her work on London and English wages between 1650 and 1800 and has published on contracts and wages, and the boundaries of the firm before 1800. She is currently Professor of Economic History of the Built Environment at The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction and Honorary Secretary of the Economic History Society, 2022-2025.
- this event is free to attend but advance registration is required.
Please note that registration for this session will close 24 hours in advance and a meeting link will be distributed on the morning of the session.
This page was last updated on 30 June 2024
