Glanmore National Historic Site Presents Victorian Bad Ideas: The Child Chimney Sweep. Children as young as 6 were brought on as chimney sweep apprentices. Prior to 1828 the accepted method of cleaning was to have a child with a brush shimmy up the dark chimney flue and brush on the way up. In 1834 the Chimney Sweepers Act made it illegal for any boy under 14 to be employed as such. In 1875 a 12 year old sweep named George Brewster got stuck in a chimney and didn't survive. His employer was found guilty of Manslaughter and the resulting publicity eventually brought about stronger regulations. *Note-This particular practice was much more common in Victorian England than Belleville Canada, but child labour was an issue here as well. #nopestalgia #victoriantiktok #museumtok #historytok #victorianhouse #chimneysweep #quinteareamuseums #quinte #bellevilleontario #discoverbelleville #southeasternontario #glanmore #fypage #victorianera #history #bellevilleontario