Boy Chimney Sweep
Being a chimney sweep in the Victorian era was a difficult existence for many children who were required to clean chimneys for a living. Some of the boys who carried out this work were as young as 3-4 years old, they had to work in sooty unhealthy conditions. Their small bodies made them the perfect size for entering climbing and cleaning the chimneys. The boys often 'buffed it', that is, climbed in the nude, propelling themselves by their knees and elbows which were scraped raw. They were often put up hot chimneys.
From 1775 onwards there was increasing concern for the welfare of the boys, and Acts of Parliament were passed to restrict, and in 1875 to stop this usage
Boy Chimney Sweep
Being a chimney sweep in the Victorian era was a difficult existence for many children who were required to clean chimneys for a living. Some of the boys who carried out this work were as young as 3-4 years old, they had to work in sooty unhealthy conditions. Their small bodies made them the perfect size for entering climbing and cleaning the chimneys. The boys often 'buffed it', that is, climbed in the nude, propelling themselves by their knees and elbows which were scraped raw. They were often put up hot chimneys.
From 1775 onwards there was increasing concern for the welfare of the boys, and Acts of Parliament were passed to restrict, and in 1875 to stop this usage