The living conditions of the chimney sweeps offered them no relief. They were usually barely fed and slept in basements , covering themselves with the filthy soot sacks they worked with. The boys rarely bathed and were frequently sickly.
How did chimney sweeps work?
A chimney sweep is a person who clears ash and soot from chimneys . The chimney uses the pressure difference caused by a hot column of gas to create a draught and draw air over the hot coals or wood enabling continued combustion. Chimneys may be straight or contain many changes of direction.
What was so horrible about being a chimney sweep?
The life of chimney sweeps in the eighteenth century London was a harsh one; often, children were forced into this trade because their families did not have enough money to support them. Some of the hardships chimney sweepers of this time endured included respiratory disease and broken bones .
What was it like to be a chimney sweep in Victorian times?
Chimney sweeping was a job children could do better than adults . Small boys (starting at the age of 5 or 6 years) would be sent scrambling up inside the chimney to scrape and brush soot away. They came down covered in soot, and with bleeding elbows and knees.
What did chimney sweeps do in Victorian times?
A chimney sweep uses brushes and sticks to dislodge and sweep away the soot from the walls of the chimney, and collects the soot in bags for disposal . In the Victorian era the number of houses with chimneys grew apace and so chimney sweeps became more important than ever.
How much did child chimney sweeps get paid?
From 1773, master chimney sweeps regularly kept anywhere from 2 to 20 children, depending on how many they could use for their business. For each child, the master sweep was paid 3-4 pounds by the government when the apprenticeship agreement was signed.
Is it illegal to deny a chimney sweep in Germany?
Yes, it’s actually illegal to refuse entry to a chimney sweep if he or she wants to come into your home . ... All Germans pay for this service, regardless if they have a chimney or not. This is an old law from the Middle Ages that was bolstered by the Third Reich.
What was life like for a chimney sweep?
The living conditions of the chimney sweeps offered them no relief. They were usually barely fed and slept in basements , covering themselves with the filthy soot sacks they worked with. The boys rarely bathed and were frequently sickly.
Which period did chimney sweeps started to become common?
By the eighteenth century the use of child chimney sweeps was commonplace, however the use of the chimney in Britain dates back much further. As far back as 1200 the construction of the chimney began to replace the previous reliance on an open fire.
Did children get stuck up chimneys?
Sadly there are recorded instances where these climbing boys choked and suffocated to death from inhaling the chimney dust or from getting stuck in the narrow and convoluted chimney flues. ... Some used their own children (both boys and girls) as young as four or five years old to go up chimneys.
Why are chimney sweeps lucky?
Tradition has it that 200 years ago, a chimney sweep saved the life of King George II by stopping his runaway horse and carriage . ... So started the tradition and because sweeps are lucky, couples would arrange to meet the sweep at their Wedding.
How many hours did Victorian chimney sweeps work?
Due to a lack of proper ventilation, coal dust was very thick in the air. Considering that Victorian Children would work from 12 to 18 hours a day it is easy to see how respiratory problems could arise.
How long did chimney sweeps work for?
Did you know that there’s a terrible chapter in the history of chimney sweeps? Children were widely used as human chimney sweeps in England for about 200 years , and the lives of these little ones who were forced to climb chimneys were the stuff of nightmares.
Do chimney sweeps go on roof?
At this day and age, many, if not most, chimney sweeps clean the chimney from the bottom of the flue. ... Sweeps who clean using this method will still go up on the roof at some point to finish up the cleaning and to do an inspection. The inspection is a very important part of a chimney sweep inspection.
How much should a chimney sweep cost?
According to more than 16,000 nationwide homeowners, the average chimney sweep cost is $252 . The typical chimney cleaning cost is between $129 and $378. Wood fireplaces that receive regular maintenance price $85 to $100 per cleaning. Those with build-up from years of neglect could total as much as $800.
How often should you sweep your chimney?
How often should I have my chimney swept? This a tougher question than it sounds. The simple answer is: The National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 says, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances.
