Chimney Sweeps--Prohibition


Figure 1.--Here a German boy has dressed up as a chimley sweep. We think in the early 1900s. We think that Germany had prohibited children from being used as sweeps so many years ago that images like this were seen as charming nostalgic depictions. The boy is oibviously to well groomed to be a chimley sweep. Our guess is that the boy came from an affluent family. A working-class boy probably would have not wanted to dress like that. We are unsure how accurate he costume is. Note that he seems to be wearing something on his head besides the hat. A reader writes, "It looks to me like he's wearing a skull cap to prevent getting his hair covered in soot. I would doubt very much that sweep boys ever dressed like this. It was always paupers, workhouse apprentices or even homeless children that ended up going up chimneys. No way would one have been dressed like this. Their owners/employers, however, may well have done so."

We know little about the effort to prohibit the use of children to sweep chimleys. Presumably this occurred in most European countries. At this time we only have information on Britain. A group in ERngland concerned about the exploitation of children founded the "Society for Superceeding Climbing Boys" (1803). The groups objective was the promotion of cleaning equipment rather than boys to clean the chimneys. In the 18th century such equipment did not exist. George Smart invented effective equipment. Joseph Glass made important improvements (1828). The use of the equipment, however, did not catch on. Master sweeps were reluctant to change, especially because the use of boys was cheaper than the equipmet. The House of Lords voted down a bill to ban the use of children under 10 as chimney sweeps (1804). MP H. Bennett sponsored legislation to stop the most serious abuse of child sweeps (1817-19). The issue was debated by notable figures of the day like William Wilberforce (the anti-slavery crusader) and the Earl of Lauderdale. No progress was made until a law was finally passed prohibiting anyone under 21 years of age from climbing chimneys (1840). The law proved ineffective because the fines were so small. It was until the publication of The Water-Babies that public opinion finally demanded action (1862-63). [Wilson, p. 299.] Lord Shaftesbury introduced an act which imposed a £10 fine. At the time this was a considerable fine for a master-sweep to pay. Passage of the act finally ended the practice of child sweeps (1864).

Problem Throughout Europe

We know little about the effort to prohibit the use of children to sweep chimleys. Presumably this occurred in most European countries.

Vissible Problem

Child labor was a terrible problem in the 19th century ruining many lives. Some of the first child labor laws were passed to protect chinmey swweps. We believe a major factor here was their visibility. Middle class families rarely came in contact with the children worked in mines and factories. Little boy chimey sweeps were actually brought into their parlors and living rooms. And the boys involved were often very youg and frail. These boys made the nest sweeps and they could fit better in the chimlies they had to clean.

Britain

At this time we only have information on Britain. A group in England concerned about the exploitation of children founded the "Society for Superceeding Climbing Boys" (1803). The groups objective was the promotion of cleaning equipment rather than boys to clean the chimneys. In the 18th century such equipment did not exist. George Smart invented effective equipment. Joseph Glass made importnt improvements (1828). The use of the equipment, however, did not catch on. Master sweeps were reluctant to change, especially because the use of boys was cheaper than the equipmet. The House of Lords voted down a bill to ban the use of children under 10 as chimney sweeps (1804). MP H. Bennett sponsored legislation to stop the most serious abuse of child sweeps (1817-19). The issue was debated by notable figures of the day like William Wilberforce (the anti-slavery crusader) and the Earl of Lauderdale. No progress was made until a law was finally passed prohibiting anyone under 21 years of age from clining chimneys (1840). The law proved ineffective because the fines were so small. It was until the publication of The Water-Babies that public opinion finally demanded action (1862-63). [Wilson, p. 299.] Lord Shaftesbury introduced an act which imposed a £10 fine. At the time this was a considerable fine for a master-sweep to pay. Passage of the act finally ended the practice of child sweeps (1864).

France


Germany









HBC





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Created: 4:57 AM 2/16/2006
Last updated: 11:28 PM 1/1/2007