The early riser

An image of a chimney-sweep carrying the canes and brushes that were the tools of his trade, from the book 'London: a Pilgrimage' by Blanchard Jerrold and Gustave Doré, 1872. When this book was published it was still possible for children to be sent up chimneys to clear away the soot deposited from burning coal. Despite the Chimney Sweepers' Acts of 1834, 1840 and 1865 the last 'climbing boy' to die as a result of climbing a chimney was George Brewster in 1875. The practice was only finally stopped in 1875 when it became law from all sweeps to be licensed and police were given the powers to enforce previous legislation.