In late 17th century London, women outnumbered men in urban populations by three to two.

In such circumstances it's perhaps a little wonder that girls and women who maintain themselves

were ordinary familiar figures in early modern cities.

And some 16% of London's households were found to be headed by women in 1693.

But it is still surprising because this is not the story that's been told about women's

work.

Women's economic labour has generally been envisaged as informal, underskilled and underpaid.

Now the key organisational structure of working life for male artisans was the Guild, an association

of craftsmen or merchants traditionally organised around a particular trade or craft for mutual

aid protection and regulation, for example by ensuring that guild membership was only available

to those who met a certain standard of workmanship.

In 17th century London, delivery companies functioned as guilds.

Apprentices normally earned the freedom of the city of London at the end of their apprenticeship

which enabled them to set up as a master of their craft and then take on apprentices of their

own.

This career route has traditionally been thought to be the preserve of men, but it turns

out that 17th century guild records deliberately obscured the work of women.

And today's guest has done painstaking archival research to bring women's work to light.

Laura Gowing is professor of early modern history at King's College London and an editor

of history workshop journal.

Her work focuses on the history of early modern women, gender and the body.

She's the author of domestic dangers, women words and sex in early modern London and the

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