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Plaque for chimney sweep, 11, whose death changed law | Plaque for chimney sweep, 11, whose death changed law |
(2 days later) | |
The death of a child chimney sweep in Fulbourn prompted a change in the law banning "climbing boys" | The death of a child chimney sweep in Fulbourn prompted a change in the law banning "climbing boys" |
The first blue plaque to commemorate the life of a child will be unveiled at the house where he died. | The first blue plaque to commemorate the life of a child will be unveiled at the house where he died. |
George Brewster, 11, became trapped in a chimney of a former Victorian pauper asylum in Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire. | George Brewster, 11, became trapped in a chimney of a former Victorian pauper asylum in Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire. |
Amateur historian, Joanna Hudson, said he deserved the recognition as his death was the catalyst that stopped children from going up chimneys to clean them. | Amateur historian, Joanna Hudson, said he deserved the recognition as his death was the catalyst that stopped children from going up chimneys to clean them. |
She said he was the last "climbing boy" to die in England in 1875. | She said he was the last "climbing boy" to die in England in 1875. |
The inquest into George's death was reported in the national press and prompted the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury to push for a new law in 1875, stopping children from being used as "climbing boys" in England. | The inquest into George's death was reported in the national press and prompted the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury to push for a new law in 1875, stopping children from being used as "climbing boys" in England. |
According to Ms Hudson, from Pampisford, Cambridgeshire, his death was also part of a much greater transformation of British industrial society that saw the end of all child labour practices in other industries such as farming, mining and in factories. | According to Ms Hudson, from Pampisford, Cambridgeshire, his death was also part of a much greater transformation of British industrial society that saw the end of all child labour practices in other industries such as farming, mining and in factories. |
Just a year later, in 1876, it was recommended that education be made compulsory in the UK for all children , before being fully enforced in 1880. | Just a year later, in 1876, it was recommended that education be made compulsory in the UK for all children , before being fully enforced in 1880. |
James Littlewood, of heritage group Cambridge Past Present Future, external said: "Usually, we receive applications for people who have done amazing things in their lives. | James Littlewood, of heritage group Cambridge Past Present Future, external said: "Usually, we receive applications for people who have done amazing things in their lives. |
"George's story is different and special, he didn't get the opportunity to do amazing things in his life, but his death was the spark for a change in British law that improved the working conditions for all children. We believe that George's story deserves a blue plaque, so we granted Joanna's application." | "George's story is different and special, he didn't get the opportunity to do amazing things in his life, but his death was the spark for a change in British law that improved the working conditions for all children. We believe that George's story deserves a blue plaque, so we granted Joanna's application." |
Several blue plaques have been erected across Cambridgeshire to honour those who have made a difference to British life | Several blue plaques have been erected across Cambridgeshire to honour those who have made a difference to British life |
Other Cambridge blue plaque recipients included Charles Darwin, Oliver Cromwell and Alan Turing. | Other Cambridge blue plaque recipients included Charles Darwin, Oliver Cromwell and Alan Turing. |
Joanna Hudson said: "Over the past six years, I have been on a whirlwind journey, finding out the true story of George Brewster, a seemingly insignificant 11-year-old boy, who died not knowing that he changed the lives of thousands of children across the land – a story of huge historical significance, for not only Cambridgeshire, but the whole country. | Joanna Hudson said: "Over the past six years, I have been on a whirlwind journey, finding out the true story of George Brewster, a seemingly insignificant 11-year-old boy, who died not knowing that he changed the lives of thousands of children across the land – a story of huge historical significance, for not only Cambridgeshire, but the whole country. |
"When you realise the momentous turning point George Brewster's death brought to changing child labour laws in Britain, you realise how important his story is." | "When you realise the momentous turning point George Brewster's death brought to changing child labour laws in Britain, you realise how important his story is." |
The plaque will go on the building now occupied by life science campus, CamLIFE and will be officially unveiled on 11 February. | The plaque will go on the building now occupied by life science campus, CamLIFE and will be officially unveiled on 11 February. |
Funds were also being raised for a marker on George's currently unmarked grave in Mill Road Cemetery, and a commemorative statue depicting the "Last Climbing Boy" in Cambridge. | Funds were also being raised for a marker on George's currently unmarked grave in Mill Road Cemetery, and a commemorative statue depicting the "Last Climbing Boy" in Cambridge. |
Get in touch | Get in touch |
Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? | Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? |
Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, external, Instagram, external and X, external. | Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, external, Instagram, external and X, external. |