HISTORY
To become better acquainted with climbing boys, please look into any or all of the following:​
​London Labour and the London Poor (1849-50) is Henry Mayhew’s celebrated sociological study of London’s lower classes in the 1840s. Rich in “oral history,” these four volumes examine all forms of work and poverty in these times.
British Chimney Sweeps (2000) by Benita Cullingford is the best one-volume, historical background on climbing boys and chimney sweeps. It includes numerous, historical illustrations.
Dore’s London (2008) combines 180 drawings from London by Gustave Dore and Blanchard Jerrold with selections by notable authors of the time. As Jerold described, it depicts “the shadows and the sunlight” of London in 1869.
Private Initiatives and Public Regulations affecting climbing boys​
Year
1773
1785
1788
1789
1792
1796
1798
1800
1803
1803
1822
1824
1826
1828
1829
1838
1844
1851
1863
1875
Year
1788
1802
1816
1817-19
1819-30
1832
1832
1833
1833
1834
1834-38
1840
1842
1841
1846
1846
1847
1850
1851-52
1863
1864
1870
1875
Private Initiatives
Jonas Hanway’s State of Chimney Sweepers’ Young Apprentices published
Jonas Hanway’s Sentimental History of Chimney Sweeps in London and Westminster published
James Andres’ Appeal to the Humane on Behalf of Climbing Boys published
William Blake’s Songs of Innocence published
David Porter’s Considerations on the Present State of Chimney Sweepers published
Society for Bettering the Considerations and Increasing the Comfort of the Poor founded
Sunday School for climbing boys at Kingston-at-Thames founded
Society for the Protection and Instruction of Chimney Apprentices founded
Society for the Encouraging of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce awards George Smart its gold medal for designing a chimney-cleaning machine
First Society for Superseding the Employment of Climbing Boys founded
Charles Lamb’s essay “In Praise of Chimney Sweeps” published
James Montgomery’s Chimney-Sweeper’s Friend and Climbing Boy’s Album published
United Society of Master Sweeps (to fight reformers) founded
John Glass markets his improved sweeping-machine (approved by Fire Insurance companies)
Society for Superseding’s Observations on the Cruelty of Employing Climbing Boys published
Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist published
Ragged School Union and Society for Improving Conditions of the Labouring Classes founded
Henry Mayhew’s London Labour and the London Poor published
Charles Kingsley’s Water Babies published
Final death of a climbing boy in a chimney – George Brewster (aged 11)
Public Regulations​
Chimney Sweepers’ Act passed
Act on Health and Morals of Apprentices passed
Society for Superseding the Employment of Climbing Boys petitions Parliament
Parliamentary Select Committee investigates practices of employing climbing boys;
Bill recommending abolition of practice passed by Commons, rejected by Lords
Factory and other Acts concerning child labour and other labour passed
Reform Bill, with extension of franchise, passed
Parliament appoints Ashley Cooper (later Lord Shaftesbury) as adviser on child welfare
Slave trade in the British Empire abolished
Factory Act passed
Chimney Sweep Act, requiring apprentice to be “willing and desirous,” passed;
Building Act of 1774 amended to regulate chimneys and flue construction
Poor Law Commission created and Poor Law Amendment Act passed – Edwin Chadwick, Secretary
Act for Regulation of Chimney Sweeps and Chimneys passed
Chadwick delivers report on “Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population of Great Britain”
Mines Act, excluding children under the age of 10, passed
Public Baths and Washhouses Act passed
Ten Hours Act, limiting children’s labour to 10 hours daily, passed
First Public Health Act passed
Select Committee reports on Chimney Sweeps; Factory, Coal, Mines Inspection Acts passed
Lord Shaftesbury unsuccessfully presents Bills to Parliament
Children’s Employment Commission appointed; new Bill recommended
Chimney Sweeps Regulation Act, prohibiting employment of children under the age of 16, passed
Education Act, making education compulsory for all children, passed
Lord Shaftesbury’s final Bill, enforcing annual license for chimney sweeps, passed