Commissioners appointed in 1862 reported that several thousand children aged between five and fourteen years, including many girls, were working for sweeps.

The 1840 Act prohibited any person under the age of 21 being compelled or knowingly allowed to ascend or descend a chimney or flue for sweeping, cleaning, or coring.

This Act proposed stiff fines and imprisonment for non-compliant master sweeps.

It gave the police power to arrest sweeps thought to be breaking the law, and gave Board of Health inspectors the authority to examine new or remodelled chimneys.

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