Early on a cold grey February morning I pulled into the car park of the former Cambridge Lunatic Asylum by the village of Fulbourn. It’s a large imposing building set amongst mature trees and tidy lawns. It was purpose build in 1873 to accommodate and treat people with mental difficulties.
I was meeting local historian Joanna Hudson to participate in the unveiling of a blue plaque in honour of chimney sweep George Brewster, an 11-year-old climbing boy who died whilst cleaning a boiler chimney on this site exactly 150 years ago today. Since first hearing his name mentioned at a pub quiz six years ago, Joanna has been on a journey of discovery, learning about George’s life and tragic death. I came across Joanna about 4 years ago when I offered to help with raising money for a blue plaque to be placed on the building.
We kept in touch and Joanna introduced me to more of George’s story. Before 1875, people had been campaigning for years about child labour and working conditions. There were laws governing the age a child could be apprenticed to a sweep, but they were widely flouted. Following the inquest into George’s death, his master was sentenced to 6 months prison with hard labour for employing someone underage. The whole story caused national outrage and sparked the radical social and political changes that swiftly followed.
I hadn’t realised just how involved it is to be awarded a blue plaque. In this case, an organisation called Cambridge Past, Present and Future are responsible for investigating the suitability of an individual. It’s a lengthy process requiring much research and corroboration. Facts, dates, places and people all need checking before permission can be granted. We believe George is the youngest person ever awarded a blue plaque.
There were very few people about that morning, so I wandered off to look for Joanna and the film crew: The Guild had commissioned a film company to record the events on the day and produce an historical documentary of George’s story. I found them busy interviewing Joanna. It was as well they caught her early because by lunchtime four TV news crews had arrived along with radio and newspaper journalists. The press releases had really sparked media interest.
I worked with our film company and did some interviews for the TV people. At about 3pm, ace sweep and trainer Gavin Cater arrived, resplendent in shiny buttoned uniform befitting the occasion and complete with the obligatory rod and brush. I must say that Gavin went down a storm, he sent us these words:
“Having found out the story of George’s untimely death and how it changed the future of young children in this country, I was more than happy to help out. So, on a very cold February afternoon, I posed for some photos for the assembled national and local press. I then pointed guests towards the building where the unveiling was taking place. Shivering from the cold I had photos with and spoke to dozens of people from primary school children to grandparents, all coming to see this special ceremony.
There were the usual questions of course – “you’re not really a sweep, are you?” and “can you sing and dance?” I answered them with pleasure and talked about the role of today’s sweeps. Then as the visitors filed into the building, I followed them for a welcome cup of hot coffee.’
As guests began to arrive for the unveiling I spoke with many interesting people: authors, college professors, historians, school children and social campaigners. Some from as far afield as Ireland and Tennessee, USA.”
The current Earl of Shaftsbury, Cambridge PP&F, Longfellow Estates and Joanna Hudson all gave engaging accounts of the event from their perspective. I’d also been asked to say some words. Only a few days earlier it had dawned on me that I’d very likely worked on some of the very same chimneys little George did. Many sweeps will have worked on the same chimneys as these boys. It’s a sobering thought and it really focussed my attention.
I thanked everyone involved and told them that the documentary film would be ready in a few weeks. It will be available for anyone to download and share to websites etc.
George was the last climbing boy to die on the job in Britain. Unfortunately, there were many who suffered the same fate before him. These boys’ day to day lives really were very difficult. Often, they were apprenticed to the sweep by a local orphanage, otherwise they may have been sold by their parents, usually because they couldn’t afford to feed them.
As a young boy in Edinburgh, I remember my own grandmother threatening me and my brothers with being ‘Sold to the Sweeps’ if we didn’t behave ourselves. And although she would never have seen a climbing boy herself, her grandparents most certainly would’ve. As the laws took effect 150 years ago and the boys disappeared, being ‘sold to the sweeps’ obviously persisted in the public consciousness as a severe threat for naughty children.
I spoke of the differences with the work we do today. Clean and protected with the emphasis on advice for customers on reducing environmental impact as well as maintenance, inspections and testing of chimneys. And lastly, I told them that perhaps surprisingly, George’s story was not well known amongst today’s chimney sweeps – it certainly will be now.
Gavin Cater said later:
The ceremony itself was very thought-provoking with the current Earl of Shaftesbury unveiling the plaque. I think it did the little man proud. Thanks to all for letting me be part of this very special occasion.
This isn’t the end of the story. Joanna Hudson is working on a permanent memorial to George in Cambridge City. On behalf of the Guild, I’ve offered help with fundraising when required.
Joanna is giving a presentation talk on the George Brewster story at the Sweep Stuff exhibition – 2pm Sat 12th April.
To visit George’s plaque you can use What Three Words: towers.reform.stand
Address: Victoria House – West Wing, Camlife, Cambridge Road, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5XA. Park in the West Wing car park and walk round the green towards main building.
See the film here – ‘The Last Climbing Boy’
