Apprentices turn up everywhere in the records of early-modern London. The archives of livery companies, the city and its parishes are full of the records of new indentures or disputes about existing ones. Former apprentices populated the city. Current apprentices rioted through its streets.
But how did apprenticeship actually work? Why was it so popular? And how important was it to London’s history? This talk will introduce a new account of apprenticeship from around 1500 to 1700, based on the records of over half a million apprentices. It will explore the contribution made by different city institutions to London becoming by far the biggest centre for training young people in England, and the ways in which this changed the nation over this critical period.
Speaker: Patrick Wallis
Speaker: Patrick Wallis is professor of economic history at the London School of Economics and president of the Economic History Society. He has recently published The Market for Skill: Apprenticeship and Economic Growth in Early Modern England with Princeton University Press.
Date and Time: Wed 24th September 2025, 18:00-19:00 (Doors open at 17:30)
Location: Huntley Room at The London Archives
Cost: Free for AfL Members, £10.00 for non-members
