In the late 16th century, children from poor families were assigned as apprentice chimney-sweepers to help cure large numbers of unemployment in the city. However, the article below details one of many instances where children were kidnapped from their families in order to climb and clean complicated chimney flues. Not only did these children have to overcome the suffocating, pitch-black, claustrophobic conditions of the flue, but some were forced to work more quickly by their master lighting a fire at the bottom of the chimney!
“A chimney-sweeper, named James Wilkes, travelled down from Lincoln in one of the steam-packets to Boston on Thursday the 18th inst., accompanied by an interesting-looking boy, about six years old. This child he took care should be in his sight as much as possible during the voyage; but, notwithstanding his caution, the boy availed himself of an opportunity to communicate something to one of the passengers, which induced that person to watch where the fellow took the child, and afterwards having procured the aid of a police-officer, they searched the premises, and rescued the unfortunate boy from the clutches of Wilkes, whose obvious intention was to make him labour in climbing chimneys. It is supposed that the parents reside in Yorkshire, and it may be imagined how intense must have been the agony they have endured since their child was missed. On Friday, Wilkes was examined before the Magistrates of Boston, and remanded for further examination, to give time for due enquiry into the circumstances of the case.”
Stamford Mercury, 26 June 1829.