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There are two ways in which the practice had an impact upon the economy of Lancaster, and to a lesser extent upon Barrow where they had offices from the 1870s to 1890s.
Firstly there was the income of the partners themselves and the salaries and wages paid to their staff. This was a relatively minor contribution to the town's economy but we do not have exact figures.
Secondly, and much more important, there was the income generated by other local firms working as contractors to Paley & Austin or providing goods and services for them. In the erection of a building many specialist tradesmen were needed in addition to the actual builders. The purchase of slates, bricks, stone and timber was also often a local activity; much timber was purchased form Charles Blades & Co. Small local firms of slaters, plumbers, electrical or gas installers and heating specialists (they often used Sewards) are found in the list of contractors.
In the case of a building commission far from Lancaster they sometimes used a local firm of builders, but it was not always so. Thus James Hatch & Co., A. Thoms and R. S. Wright are sometimes found involved with buildings at a distance from the town, where they would not normally have found work.
A final but very important group of local firms were those producing specialist fittings. Here Paley & Austin made great use of James Hatch & Co. - latterly of Gillow & Co. - for ecclesiastical woodwork and Shrigley & Hunt for stained glass.
Collectively the work provided from commissions obtained by the practice must have made a substantial impact upon the economy of the town and of a number of local firms especially in the period from about 1860 to 1914. |
