*** working boys clothing : chimley chimney sweeps John Valentine Gray






Chimney Sweeps--John Valentine Gray

chimney sweep
Figure 1.--This postcard shows (John) Valentine Gray. It's a waxwork in part of the Brading Max Museum on The Isle Of Wight off the central south coast of England. The Isle of Wight is where Valentine lived and work as a boy chimney sweep.

John Valentine Gray was a 10-year-old chimney sweep was from Alverstoke on the Isle Of Wight. He worked in Newport, the island's main town as a chimney sweep. He fell to his death through exhaustion and physical abuse in the first few days of 1822. His body, covered in bruises with a severe blow to the head, was found in an outhouse in Pyle Street where he slept and public indignation was one of the factors which led to the Climbing Boys Act (also known as the Childrens' Employment Act). His master, Benjamin Davies, was eventually convicted of his manslaughter. He and his wife were imprisoned. The passageway on the site where he died has now been renamed Gray's Walk. A plaque is attached to the alley wall and he has an obelisk memorial in Church Litton recreation ground, which was once the churchyard.







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Created: 11:56 PM 1/1/2007
Last updated: 11:56 PM 1/1/2007