Chimney Sweepers Act 1875

The Chimney Sweepers Act 1875^[1] (38 & 39 Vict. c. 70) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that superseded the Chimney Sweepers and Chimneys Regulation Act 1840 passed to try to stop child labour. 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.

Chimney Sweepers Act 1875^[1]

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act for further amending the Law relating to Chimney Sweepers.
Citation	38 & 39 Vict. c. 70
Territorial extent	Did not extend to Scotland[2]
Dates
Royal assent	11 August 1875
Commencement	31 December 1875[3]
Other legislation
Repealed by	Chimney Sweepers Acts (Repeal) Act 1938
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Chimney Sweepers Act 1875 was repealed for England and Wales by section 1(1) of the Chimney Sweepers Acts (Repeal) Act 1938 (1 & 2 Geo. 6.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.^[4] This Act ensured all chimney-sweeps would be registered with the police, and that official supervision of their work would take place.^[5] The provisions of all previous acts would now take place.^[6]

See also

• Child labour in the British Industrial Revolution
• Chimney Sweepers Act 1788
• Chimney Sweepers Act 1834
• Chimney Sweepers Regulation Act 1864
• Chimney sweeps' carcinoma
• Percivall Pott