Extract from White's Leicester and Rutland Directory 1863

EMPLOYMENTS, &c.--Of males in Leicestershire, in 1851, upwards of 20 years of age, 3611 were returned as farmers, 85 farm bailiffs, 11,167 agricultural labourers, 1360 in-door farm servants, 212 shepherds, 772 gardeners, 21 nurserymen, 129 gamekeepers, 73 woolstaplers, 67 woollen cloth manufactures, 639 worsted manufacturers, 48 silk manufacturers, 14 ribbon manufacturers, 112 lace manufacturers, 197 cotton manufacturers, 229 earthenware manufacturers, 138 needle manufacturers, 137 dyers, 106 carriers, 40 tanners, 1147 coal-miners, 449 brickmakers, 796 blacksmiths, 431 wheelwrights, 1386 carpenters, 894 bricklayers, 215 masons, 4768 shoemakers, 2785 tailors, 217 hosiers, 148 saddlers, 86 coach-makers, 109 printers, 94 watchmakers, 168 engine and machine makers, 2667 domestic servants, 347 boatmen, 234 landed proprietors, 400 schoolmasters, 60 architects, 157 artists, 362 surgeons, 31 physicians, 207 solicitors, 17 barristers, 436 clergymen, 121 protestant ministers, 323 Chelsea pensioners, 80 Greenwhich pensioners, 13 navy officers, and 26 army officers. Of the females, 558 were schoolmistresses, 248 governesses, 11,645 domestic servants, and 2447 milliners ; 8877 were engaged in the manufacture of hosiery, 486 of worsted, 1015 lace, 308 cotton, 46 woollen cloth, 71 silk, 36 ribbon, and 35 of earthenware. In 1851, there were in the county 222 blind persons, 120 deaf and dumb, 1217 in 11 workhouses, 235 in prison, 236 in 2 lunatic asylums, and 117 in 2 hospitals. of the 42,140 families returned in 1831, about 12350 were employed in agriculture, and the rest in trade, &c. If the ratio of persons employed constitutes a ground of decision, Leicestershire is essentially a manufacturing county, there being but five counties which, in this respect, have a decided precedence ; whilst it is on a level with those of Nottingham, Derby, and Chester. The principal manufacturers are those connected with WOOL, one of the staple products of the county, to the amount of about 2,500,000 lbs. per annum, the greater part of which is exported raw to Yorkshire, and the west of England. Wool-combing, the spinning of woollen yarn, and the weaving of stockings and a great variety of other articles of worsted hosiery, employ the greater portion of the inhabitants in Leicester, Loughborough, Hinckley, and the numerous manufacturing villages of Leicestershire ; but cotton hosiery and fancy articles, in an endless variety, of mixed fabrics, are extensively manufactured here ; and also some little lace in and about Loughborough ; and silk plush and carpets at and near Market Harborough. At Leicester and some other places are several iron foundries and manufactories of agricultural and other machines.
FARMS, &c.--The number of farmers who made returns to the census inquiries in 1851 in Leicestershire was 3744. Of their farms 1741 were less than 50 acres each ; 857 about 100 acres each ; 945 from 150 to 300 acres each ; 150 from 350 to 600 acres each ; five of 700 acres each ; one of 800 acres ; one of 1000 acres ; and one of 1200 acres. Six farmers in the county employed 30 labourers each ; 54 others employed from 15 to 25 labourers each ; and about 200 others employed 10 men each.

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