Victorian Children in the Workplace

1
Victorian Children in the Workplace
Written by Sue Bolton Greenway First and Nursery
School Crossways Berkhamsted Herts HP4 3NH
2
Victorian Children in the Workplace
3
If you were a child in early Victorian times
you wouldnt be at school now........
.Hooray!!!
4
You would probably be at work.
Boo
And it could be very, very hard work indeed!
5
Lets take a trip back in time
The year is 1837
6
Can you remember what important event takes
place this year
?
Yes! Queen Victoria begins her reign
7
You are 7 years old. Your family is very poor,
so you must go to work.
Your brothers and sisters already have jobs in
the following places.
We are going to try to guess where they work and
what their jobs are.
8
My name is Annie and I am 8 years old. It is
very hot and noisy where I work.
By the end of the day my fingers are often
bleeding.
At night Im very tired as Ive to keep moving
all day or Im shouted at.
My job is called a piecer.
9
This is where I work repairing broken threads.
It is a cotton mill.
10
Im Edward. I am 9 years old. I have been working
for 3 years.
I work in the dark with only the light of a
candle to help me see.
I open and shut doors to allow air to
circulate through tunnels.
Other children have to push heavy trucks.
11
This is where I spend 12 hours every day.
I work in a coal mine.
12
My work is very hard. I work outside in all
weathers. Sometimes I get so wet I have to hang
my clothes up to dry on top of the wheat. I have
to take off my shoes and pour the water out.
My name is Sarah Ann. I am 11 years old.
There is no shelter from bad weather and my
bones are sore. I am often in pain. My knee is
so bad, its very swollen. I can only go with a
crutch or a stick now.
I have many jobs but Im helping with the crops
just now.
13
I work on a farm.
14
My job is very dirty and dangerous.
My names Bert. I am 10 years old. I am very
small and thin.
Ive scabs on my knees and arms where Ive
scraped them climbing.
Im very dirty as I spend most of the day
covered in soot.
15
I work in different houses sweeping the chimneys
16
Throughout Queen Victoria's reign, new laws were
passed to make it illegal to employ young
children.
1841 Mines Act No child under the age of 10 to
work underground.
1868 Agricultural Gangs Act No child under the
age of 8 to be employed in a gang of farm workers.
1874 Factory Act No child under the age of 10
is to be employed in a factory.
1875 Climbing Boys Act Illegal to send boys up
chimneys.
However there were still many children, over the
age of 9, at work when Queen Victoria died in
1901.
17
The End