Chimney Sweepers Act 1788

British law on child labor

United Kingdom legislation

Dates
Act of Parliament
Parliament of Great Britain
Long title	An Act for the better Regulation of Chimney Sweepers and their Apprentices.
Citation	28 Geo. 3. c. 48
Royal assent	25 June 1788
Other legislation
Repealed by	Chimney Sweepers Act 1834
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Chimney Sweepers Act 1788 (28 Geo. 3. c. 48) was a British Act of Parliament passed to try to stop child labour. Many boys as young as four were being used as chimney sweeps.

This act stated that no boy should be bound apprentice before he was eight years old. His parents' consent must be obtained, the master sweep must promise to provide suitable clothing and living conditions, as well as an opportunity to attend church on Sundays. The clause inserted into the Bill requiring Master Sweeps to be licensed was voted down in the House of Lords.^[1]

References

Notes

^ Strange 1982, p. 41

Bibliography

Strange, K. H. (1982). Climbing Boys: A Study of Sweeps' Apprentices 1772-1875 (PDF). London/Busby: Allison & Busby. ISBN 0-85031-431-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2011.

UK legislation

Pre-parliamentary legislation

List of English statutes
Charter of Liberties
Magna Carta

Acts of parliaments of states preceding
the Kingdom of Great Britain

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Parliament of England