Table of Contents
How old were the youngest chimney sweeps?
The small boys used as chimney sweeps were typically between 5 and 10 years of age, and some were as young as 4 years old. They clambered up chimneys with brushing and scraping tools that knocked the creosote and soot from the chimney lining.
How long did chimney sweeps serve as apprentices?
seven-year
An apprentice agreed to obey his master. Once his seven-year-long apprenticeship was completed he would become a journeyman sweep, and would continue to work for a master sweep of his choice. Other apprentices were sold on to the sweep, or sold by their parents.
What age did chimney sweeps have to be after the Chimney Sweepers Act 1875?
In 1934, the Chimney Sweeps Act, not to be confused with the Chimney Sweepers Act of 1875, was passed outlawing the apprenticing of any child below the age of ten. No child below the age of 14 was to actually be engaged in cleaning chimneys.
How much did a Victorian chimney sweep get paid?
From 1773, master chimney sweeps regularly kept anywhere from 2 to 20 children, depending on how many they could use for their business. For each child, the master sweep was paid 3-4 pounds by the government when the apprenticeship agreement was signed.
What did chimney sweeps do in Victorian times?
A chimney sweep uses brushes and sticks to dislodge and sweep away the soot from the walls of the chimney, and collects the soot in bags for disposal. In the Victorian era the number of houses with chimneys grew apace and so chimney sweeps became more important than ever.
How much was a Victorian chimney sweep paid?
When did chimney sweepers stop?
Efforts were made through the years to put an end to the cruel practice of using child chimney sweeps, but they failed until 1875. The death of 12-year-old chimney sweep George Brewster became the catalyst which finally pushed through legislation that outlawed the cruel practice.
Did kids clean chimneys?
Master Sweeps would buy young children from orphanages and take in young homeless children from the streets. These were between the ages of 5 and 10, although most were under the age of seven, and some were even as young as four. These boys were used to climb up chimneys to clean out deposits of soot.