The Baldons Population in 1881

The first census of the British population took place in 1801; censuses have been carried out every ten years since then, with the exception of 1941.  The 1841 census was the first in which names were recorded.  Detailed census data revealing names, occupations and other personal information is not released for 100 years after the date of the census.  Therefore the only years for which named data is currently available are 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911 and 1921.  We focus here on the year 1881, to see what it can tell us about Marsh and Toot Baldon at that time.

The populations of the two villages in 1881 were as follows (Little Baldon was included with Toot Baldon then);

	Females	Males	Total
Marsh Baldon	158	142	300
Toot Baldon	106	111	217

 

 

The graph below shows the changes in population size for Marsh and Toot Baldon between 1801 and 1981, based on each census. Note that the apparent decline in Toot Baldon and increase in Marsh Baldon populations between 1921 and 1941 is due to a local boundary change in 1932; previous to this date Little Baldon formed part of Toot Baldon, but afterwards became part of Marsh Baldon parish.

 

Whilst the population of Oxfordshire approximately doubled in each century, the Baldons population has remained relatively static. The 2021 census recorded the combined population as 435, just 4 people higher than the population in 1801 (431), but almost a third lower than the 1851 peak.  The population peaked at 641 in 1851. The decline after this possibly reflects the reduced number of workers required to farm the land as agriculture became more mechanised. 

 

The ages of the people are recorded in the census.  In 1881 the populations of Marsh and Toot Baldon were young with 30% of the population aged 10 or under (31% and 29% for Marsh Baldon and Toot Baldon respectively).  The graph below shows the 1881 age distribution of the two villages combined.

 

Age distribution of population - Marsh and Toot Baldon combined (1881)

What did people do for a living in 1881?

The people of Marsh and Toot Baldon whose occupations were recorded were mostly agricultural workers.  This was slightly more so in Toot Baldon than in Marsh Baldon (65% and 58% respectively); in Marsh Baldon there was a higher proportion of villagers with occupations recorded as being engaged in a trade such as carpentry or dressmaking in Marsh Baldon (20% compared to 6% in Toot Baldon).

Occupations of Marsh and Toot Baldon residents in 1881

 

What sort of households did people live in?

The census records the relationship of people to the head of household.  This reveals to us the type of households that people lived in.  For example there were 10 grandchildren of the head of household, and 6 nieces and nephews of the head of household listed, which is probably more than you would find today.  There were only 4 visitors recorded out of a population of 517 people in the Baldons on census night – this figure seems very low.

In Toot Baldon the census recorded 54 households in total, with 65 in Marsh Baldon. (In the 2021 census the number of households was 60 and 120 respectively.)  The average household size across the two villages was 4.5 people whereas nowadays it is 2.4 people.

Where did residents of Marsh and Toot Baldon come from?

Approximately half of the people living in Marsh Baldon were born in Marsh Baldon, and approximately half of those living in Toot Baldon were born in Toot Baldon.  Significant numbers also came from the other village.  Overall only 13% were born outside of Oxfordshire.

                    Birthplace of Marsh Baldon residents 1881

  

                     Birthplace of Toot Baldon Residents 1881

 

 Sources

 Vision of Britain https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/

Census 2021 www.ons.gov.uk

Census 1881 www.ancestry.co.uk