Many may think the chimney sweep between 1700 to 1900 was a profession one only would see within victorian england however the profession of the chimney sweep was actually a lot more widespread. This blog aims to provide you with a few more details about who these people were, how they lived and how roofing companies have changed.
The Climbing Children
Boys who wanted to climb had to be little. Due to this, many people outgrew their jobs by the time they were nine or 10 years old, however, some stayed in the workforce until they were fourteen. Master chimney sweeps frequently underfed the children in their care so that they could continue to nimbly manoeuvre up and down the stacks, which were frequently at times a little larger than a measly 7 inches square. Life was hard for these children and often master chimney sweepers preyed upon children who were vulnerable and from destitute families. Victorian rooves were often in need of roof restoration too making the job even more dangerous.
Medical Issues
Boys who climbed often had health problems since it was physically taxing and risky. The climber's body would develop raw, red, skinless places as a result of going up and down the stacks repeatedly. These raw areas persisted in that condition until the climber acquired calluses or until the climbers were toughened by the application of a potent brine, which was applied to them in front of a hot fire with their master watching over them and ready to wield the cane in the event of non-compliance. Before moving the youngster up another stack, managers did little more than wash these skinless regions with salt water.
As well as the skin issues which were developed as a result of heading up the chimneys, the soot itself which they were cleaning is carcinogenic. The cancer they developed was a squamous cell carcinoma of the skin of the scrotum. The average age of the onset of the disease caused by being a chimney sweep was 37 however boys as young as 8 were found with the disease.
Napolean’s Nephew
To put into context how tragic these boys appeared and withered, there is an old wives tale sort of story which is popular which is about Napolean Bonaparte's nephew, Louis, (prior to becoming Napoleon III). Louis Napoleon, who was only four years old, was so terrified when he first saw a blackened chimney sweep that he flung himself into his governess' arms and asked her about the chimney sweep's predicament. Next time as a result of hearing the tale from his governess, Louis Napoleon allegedly found his purse and gave all his money to the chimney sweep!
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