Its implementation was resisted by chimney sweeps in the UK. Inventor George Smart invented the first mechanical sweeper – an adjustable brush that could replace child labor – in 1803.

As you can imagine, this was extremely dangerous and poorly-paying work.īy the late 1700s, legislation had been introduced to help improve working conditions for these children, and by 1834, it was illegal for a boy of under 14 to work as a chimney sweep or apprentice.ġ800s – More Advanced Cleaning Tools Replace Child Labor So, boys as young as the age of four years apprenticed with adult chimney sweeps, and climbed up the chimneys and flues, cleaning them with hand tools. This had the unfortunate side effect of making it difficult – if not impossible – for an adult man to clean the chimney. However, after the Great London Fire and industrialization, chimneys became much narrower and more difficult to clean.14 inches by 9 inches became one of the most common standards. Because of this, they were easy to clean, even by non-professionals. In the 1600s, chimneys were typically wide, and buildings were not very high, or grouped together very closely.

Let’s get started!ġ700s – Industrialization And The Creation Of The Chimney Sweep Have you ever wondered how chimney sweeping began? Let us discuss the history of the chimney sweep in both the UK and the US, and how the modern profession of chimney sweep came into existence. The History Of The Chimney Sweep: An Overview

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