The Chimney Sweepers Act 1875 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that superseded the

Chimney Sweepers and Chimneys Regulation Act 1840 The Chimney Sweepers and Chimneys Regulation Act 1840The citation of this Act by this short title was authorised by the Short Titles Act 1896, section 1 and the first schedule. Due to the repeal of those provisions it is now authorised by secti ...

passed to try to stop

child labour Child labour refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially and morally harmful. Such e ...

. The bills, proposed by Lord Shaftesbury, were triggered by the death of twelve-year-old George Brewster, whose master had caused him to climb and clean the chimney at

Fulbourn Hospital Fulbourn Hospital is a mental health facility located between the Cambridgeshire village of Fulbourn and the Cambridge city boundary at Cherry Hinton, about south-east of the city centre. It is managed by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS ...

. The Chimney Sweepers Act 1875 was repealed for England and Wales by section 1(1) of the

Chimney Sweepers Acts (Repeal) Act 1938 A chimney is an architectural ventilation structure made of masonry, clay or metal that isolates hot toxic exhaust gases or smoke produced by a boiler, stove, furnace, incinerator, or fireplace from human living areas. Chimneys are typ ...

( 1 & 2 Geo. 6. c. 58). The 1840 Act prohibited any person under 21 being compelled or knowingly allowed to ascend or descend a chimney or flue for sweeping, cleaning or coring. This Act ensured all chimney-sweeps would be registered with the police, and that official supervision of their work would take place. The provisions of all previous acts would now take place.

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1875 United Kingdom labour law Child labour law 1875 in labor relations Chimney sweeps {{UK-hist-stub

Further reading

References