The death of child chimney sweep George Brewster in Fulbourn in 1875 was the latest tragedy to befall so-called ‘climbing boys’ in Victorian Britain. But it would be the catalyst for a seismic ...

“Every child should know this boy’s name ... campaign led by the Earl of Shaftesbury, who introduced the Chimney Sweepers Act, which banned the employment of boys as chimney sweeps.

By the 18th century, child chimney sweeps were common ... In time, the government passed the Chimney Sweepers Act to improve the living and working conditions of chimney sweeps.