In 1871 bank clerks were given certain days in the year as holidays. Within a very short time bank holidays became recognised as official public holidays. Before this time, holidays were a matter for religion, local custom and the generosity, or otherwise, of individual employers. In Lancashire, for example, 'Wakes Weeks' and 'town holidays' were an old-established tradition. The changes of the 1870s introduced the idea of statutory holidays for working people. Gradually the working week was reduced in length and leisure time slowly increased.