Chimney sweeping in Victorian London employed boys as young as five. They climbed tight flues to remove soot, often suffering burns, asphyxiation, or falls. Wealthy families insisted on spotless fireplaces, fueling the dangerous trade. Some children were orphans or street waifs, forced into the job. The Royal Society and reformers occasionally intervened, but work continued for decades. Chimney sweeps became a symbol of child exploitation and urban grime. Awareness of the dangers inspired eventual labor laws. Reformers used these stories to push for education and humane treatment.
Child chimney sweeps highlight the human cost of urban living conditions.
It demonstrates how Victorian street labor exploited the most vulnerable.
Did you know some sweeps were called “climbing boys” and carried small bags of soot that could weigh several pounds?
[National Archives UK, nationalarchives.gov.uk]