Work in the Market Gardens

It was established practice that women and girls who worked on the pit banks went to work in the market gardens around London during the summer months. Accustomed to carrying heavy loads on their heads they would carry loads of fruit such as strawberries and other vegetables from areas like Hammersmith and Isleworth into Covent Garden. They were able to earn substantially more money doing this work than back in Shropshire and this was a traditional way for young women to build up their dowries.

Benjamin Haymer has a family of 9, he is described as industrious but the state of the house is very middling. The auditor observes that "the husband and son work in Staffordshire and the wife and daughter are gone to work in the London Gardens the rest of the family at home".