Victorian Bournemouth (193) examines the significant rise in bookkeepers in Bournemouth from 1881-1891, correlating their presence with business success. Mostly young, unmarried women pursued bookkeeping as an alternative to traditional roles. Key sectors employing bookkeepers included hotels and butchers, illustrating women’s increasing role in professional office settings and contributing to business prosperity.
Introduction Lodginghouses developed into an important part of early Victorian Bournemouth’s economy, the fluid nature of the category reflecting the dynamics of the ever-expanding town. Not least, this business afforded opportunities for women to establish personal and economic independence. Early trends The earliest found directory (1849) listed a single lodginghouse keeper, Mrs Slidle. Before going […]