Chimney Sweeps History
As we know through history they have had a blessed marriage and many might attribute that all to luckthe luck of the.
Chimney sweeps history. The history of chimney sweeps in the United States is similar to that in England. It was not that long ago that puff backs and Chimney Fires were a common occurrence. The master was to teach them the trade while being responsible for housing them.
Being a chimney sweep was not lucky for the little girls and boys who had this job in the 1700s to 1800s. It was initially noticed as being prevalent amongst chimney sweeps. The early Romans first made the switch from a single fire in the center of a room to an isolated fireplace to heat buildings and cook indoors but it was not until 16th century England that the trend of fireplaces and chimneys really caught on.
Chimney sweeping was one of the more difficult hazardous and low-paying occupations of the era and consequently has been derided in verse ballad and pantomime. To the towns peoples surprise the rider was the king of the town. Children were widely used as human chimney sweeps in England for about 200 years and the lives of these little ones who were forced to climb chimneys were the stuff of nightmares.
During normal operation a layer of creosote builds up on the inside of the chimney restricting the flow. The professional of chimney sweeping got its start in the 16th century in England. Children were used for chimney sweeping due to their diminutive size that enabled them to fit into the very narrow and enclosed spaces that required cleaning inaccessible to an adult.
It was not long before people built fireplaces in. The prominence of using small children as chimney sweeps began after the Great Fire of London which occurred September 2nd through 5th 1666. History of the Chimney Sweep A Brief History of Our Craft It was understood even in the Georgian period of our history that chimneys had to be brush cleaned.
Because of their long history and stories from ancient folklore today a chimney sweep is a sign of good luck wealth and happiness. Chimneys may be straight or contain many changes of direction. Present-day experiences are very different from those of chimney sweeps down through history.
Their job was to actually climb up inside the chimney brushing the flue as they went and they werent done til their heads. Way back to the 17th century the Master Sweep of the day would employ small boys to climb and scramble up chimneys. As the story goes a chimney sweep saved the life of a horse rider on a panicked horse galloping through the cobblestone streets of a large town.
Although the wide flues of lower buildings were often cleaned by the householder himself climbing boys were used to clean longer flues. The Chimney Sweep is one of the oldest and most dangerous occupations in the world. With some as young as four or five perhaps not quite strong enough six years of age was often the time.
During the 18th century the use of African-American chimney sweeps spread throughout the. The chimney sweep had disappeared into the. The history of chimney sweeps Chimney sweeps have slowly evolved over the generations from the climbing boys to extendable rods and brushes or a rope with a weight and brush to a few forward thinking chimney sweeps introducing vacuum cleaners into their repertoire in the late 1940s to early 1950s.
The chimney sweep has been around for hundreds of years and still today is a necessary and important profession. A chimney sweep is a person who clears ash and soot from chimneysThe chimney uses the pressure difference caused by a hot column of gas to create a draught and draw air over the hot coals or wood enabling continued combustion. From The Chimney Sweeper by William Blake from his work Songs of Innocence and of Experience 1795.
The History of Chimney Sweeps Dates Back to the 13th Century The earliest signs of chimneys date back to the 13th century in ancient Rome but it was not until the 16th century that chimneys and fireplaces became a staple of homes particularly among the wealthy. They were a type of indentured servant bought by the chimney sweep master. Today with the advent of modern technologies upgraded building codes and safety regulations along with regular inspections by chimney professionals we enjoy a safer environment in our homes.
It turns out royals have some sway over luck as chimney sweeps grew in popularity again when Prince Phillip dashed outside on the day of his marriage to the present Queen Elizabeth to shake the hand of a chimney sweep.
