[541] _Hist. Mun. Com. Report_, XI. App. III. p. 247; _D. S. P._, Chas. I., Vol. 195, 46. [Sidenote: 7 _b_. Introduction of new trades.] Sometimes the authorities utilised the labour of their poor in order to establish a new trade. Thus in eight of the towns of Hertfordshire public funds were obtained for an unsuccessful attempt to employ those out of work in making serges and baize, then called the "new drapery[542]." A project of the same kind was suggested to the justices of Pembrokeshire, but they were very cautious about committing themselves to its adoption[543]. [542] _Cal. of State Papers_, May 10th, 1620. [543] _D. S. P._, Chas. I., Vol. 192, 70 and 71. Our informants generally tell us only that stocks were raised and the poor set to work. But from the instances we have just examined we can see that many kinds of employment were used. On the whole clothmaking and the provision of flax, hemp and tow were the most usual expedients. [Sidenote: 7 _c_. Workhouses and Jersey schools.] But both private employers and public officials found that if the very poor took work into their homes they might embezzle the materials. Moreover, the seventeenth century administrators often carefully provided for the training of workers, and this could be more conveniently done in some building. We, therefore, hear of the erection of workhouses and Jersey schools and the continued use of Houses of Correction. At Newbury and Reading institutions of this kind were founded by Mr Kendrick. At Newbury we are told threescore persons were employed in the trade of clothing and other manufactures, most of these "being houskeepers and havinge wyfes and children depending upon their labours." Besides this fifty households were set to work by spinning for the workhouse, and a "stock" was raised by taxation to be partly expended "to imploie the poore in worke[544]." [544] _Ib._ Vol. 192, 14 II. We have detailed accounts of the Sheffield corporation. From these we find that they spent about two hundred pounds in building a workhouse and providing the necessary materials. The details of the construction were very carefully planned; the carpenters were sent to Newark to see the workhouse there and every item of expenditure is set down in the accounts[545]. [545] _Extracts from the Earliest Book of Accounts of Sheffield._ Entries from 1628 onwards. By J. D. Leader. At Taunton and Abingdon similar institutions seem to have been established in consequence of the special activity of the years after 1630. The Taunton workhouse was newly built in May 1631, and some children and others who were able to work were already sent there to be trained in labour[546]. In June also in 1631 the Mayor of Abingdon reports that "wee haue erected w^{th}in our borough a workehouse to sett poore people to worke[547]." [546] _D. S. P._, Chas. I., Vol. 192, 65. [547] _Ib._ 195, 7.