 Manorial records of Swindon from 1700 to 1900 show that many families chose to remain here instead of seeking fortunes elsewhere – 'Swindon was not a town that its occupants readily moved from or changed'.The town's biggest employers in 1701 were the quarries, with 15 roughmasons or stonecutters and 40 labourers listed.Manorial records also note the following tradesmen/families in the town –
Four bakers, four butchers, five innholders, 1 cooper, 1 mercer, 1 draper, 1 glover, 1 currier, 1 saddler, 3 weavers.