So, what's it worth?

So, what's it worth?

12 May 2006

In 1680, employing a craftsman for 13 days would cost you the equivalent of just one hour with a modern plumber. In 1270, for the same amount, you could add five extra days of craftsman work, 14 lbs of wool and a bale of wheat.

These are just some of the many interesting facts you can look up on The National Archives´ new currency conversion program at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency/ 

You can convert old money into new equivalent values, and you can also see what the relative buying power of money was in days gone by.  For example, Jane Austen left £50 in her will in 1817. That sum is approximately equal to the spending power of £2,096 today.  It would have bought her beneficiary:

318 days of craftsman labour or,

53 stones of wool or,

8 quarters of wheat or,

9 cows or,

4 horses

The website gives us a fascinating insight into the value of money and is a useful tool.

Dave Annal of The Family Records Centre said

"This will be of interest to family historians and to anyone wanting to know more about how their ancestors lived."

To plug in some values, log onto http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency/