Let me try to put some perspective

from a Forest Mercury August 1887

Lydney -> Weston S Mare return train excursion 2s 6d (£0.13)
Mens Pit Boots from Jacobs Cinderford £6s 6d (£0.34)
Butter 1s /pound (£0.05)
Jam 2 1/2d (£0.03)

Today a Lydney to Weston return rail ticket will cost approx £20.00 ( 160 times the 1887 cost)

Jam in my local supermarket is approx £1.20 (40 times the 1887 cost)

Today Lydney to London return rail with an advance purchase saver ticket is about £55.00 (normal return £140.00), so if we say that is 3 times the Lydney - Weston fare, we might estimate that the 1887 Lydney London excursion fare would be approx £1.00 - unless I can find a true figure in an old paper :-)

In the same newspaper there are assisted passages to America offered for £3.00, so you can see the decision " new pair o' boots £6, thee n me awld Butt to America £6 " best reach for the Mastercard !!!

compare Bristol -> New York flight ( return) £500 this summer (2008)