Historical literacy in England, by sex

Figure illustrates the percentage of persons who are literate. Data for 1840-1860 from Schofield (1973), % of men and women who sign marriage registers (England);
1640s-1740s from Houston (1982), % of witnesses who sign court depositions (North England); 1580-1720 from Cressy (1980), % witnesses who sign ecclesiastical
court declarations (Norwich Diocese). Figures are not nationally representative.