Money, money, money

[elaby]

Victorian currency (shillings, crowns, guineas, etc) appeals to me immensely. I'm not sure why; the decimal system seems much easier to remember. There's just something about the pre-decimalization terms that sound lyrical to me. Anyway, because I'm a geek and the idea fascinates me that in the 1860's you could buy an umbrella for twice what a milk-woman made in a week, I wanted to figure out how much Watson's pension is at the beginning of A Study in Scarlet.

I've done some math here; beware.

Watson's pension in 1881 is 11s 6d* a day, which comes out to 3£ 17s weekly. In around 1860, his weekly income would buy a frock coat, or a water-closet (without the installation fees, I can only assume). The disparity between these in comparison to today boggles me.

So, if I did the math right, that means Watson makes 209£ 14s 8d a year. Not bad, but not great; that's within the second lowest middle-class bracket (the middle bracket, in fact - between "under £100" and "£300-1,000") in the 1861 census, exactly 20 years earlier. There were tons of middle class people making less than 100£ a year, but all working class people were classified as making less than 100£ a year as well. This would mean that Watson was making, every year, a bit more than twice as much as a junior clerk second class in the Post Office would make, and if I recall correctly, about as much as a Scotland Yard detective could be expected to make. Not bad, for a pension. And since he was a doctor, it would put him solidly in the middle class, even though you could be a skilled worker (or a policeman) and be making more than that while still be considered working class. Not that we ever doubted Watson was middle-class.


*For those on my f'list not familiar with the abbreviations, s=shilling and d=pence. I was completely flummoxed by this in the Moomintroll books when I was little, no less by the 8/- meaning eight shillings and no pence. I thought they'd made up the currency *laughs*

Comments

[the-arethusa.livejournal.com]

I applaud your maths! Pre-decimal makes me scream and run away. I suppose it is more attractive sounding that mere pounds and pence, but it makes my brain numb just thinking about it.

I'm very impressed with you XD

What you said about the middle classes is interesting. Watson would be considered middle class mostly because of his profession. This is when you get into the argument about blue collar and white collar jobs, which have less to do with how much you earn and more to do with how much education you've received to get that job.

I'm gonna stop now before I start to display my full socialist colours ;)

[missprinty.livejournal.com]

But that's how the class system works in the UK. I was trying to explain to dd the other night that whatever she thought she was, she was upper middle class, in the UK you are what class your father is, (or in her case, mine) like it or not. None of this arriviste nonsense about riches recently acquired pushing you up the class system. Or money lost dropping you down to the bottom. Hence the existence of the Royal Society for the Relief of Indigent Gentlewomen of Scotland - I kid you not.

Which means that we remain rather higher up the class system than our income would suggest. We are the genteel poor, and proud of it! And, in typically British fashon, entirely socialist also.

[the-arethusa.livejournal.com]

Of course class is a contentious issue for many and no one can really agree on what makes you one class or another and many would argue that it is possible to climb the social ladder.

I come from a family of blue collar workers, typically working class with the relatively low wages that go with it.

I have been told by many that my university education actually excludes me from the working class and puts me firmly into the middle classes.

Is that true? Or am I still working class because of my family? A lot of people would laugh at me, with my BA in English, claiming to be working class. Yet I've had the privilege of a good education (for which I have had to work bloody hard for) but not a very privileged upbringing.

Ah, the archaic class system of Britain. Sometimes you just gotta laugh at it.

[missprinty.livejournal.com]

I think you're still working class but your children would be more likely to be middle class. Or at least, that's how I always thought it worked. Possibly the working class might sneer at you with your fancy ways and degree, the middle class might accept you as an honorary member as your children find themselves enjoying a more middle class lifestyle than you did. It seems to be much simpler in America where it's all about the money, and nobody cares who your father was, you make your own destiny. Personally I tend towards the British view that you are a product of your upbringing, and there is nothing you can do to change it.

And then there the whole aristocracy versus meritocracy. Just because you're smart and work hard and succeed doesn't make you posh, and goodness knows there are some monumentally stupid people in the upper classes.

[the-arethusa.livejournal.com]

And then there the whole aristocracy versus meritocracy

Not forgetting that the grammar school system proved that we can't even do meritocracy without bringing our elitist class concerns into it.

I could go further with this but I will spare elaby's comments page ;)

[missprinty.livejournal.com]

Well quite!

And sorry elaby, we've been comment spamming like mad.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

It's no problem :) It's all very interesting!

[elaby.livejournal.com]

I don't mind conversation in my comments! You guys can go as far as you want :) Or stop whenever you want.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you! ^___^

This is when you get into the argument about blue collar and white collar jobs, which have less to do with how much you earn and more to do with how much education you've received to get that job.

Yeah, this is really interesting. Growing up in the U.S. you get inundated when you're little with "You can do whatever you want no matter who you are! You can be president!" It almost became a cliche. And then you grow up and come up against, you know, obstacles O_o

[the-arethusa.livejournal.com]

Yeah, here in the UK we get hypnotised by all the talk about how there is no longer a class divide in this country. Then you go into the real world and, like you say, face a load of obstacles that certain people in society never have to face.

Things are better now, without doubt, but we still have a long way to go before we rid ourselves of the class system.