Working Conditions of Children

Working Conditions of Children

Factories/ Mills inspected : Cotton Mill, Cromford

Date : 8th of October of the year 1844

I visited the cotton mill in Cromford

Because, whilst there are advantages to employing children, for

example: requiring far less pay compared to adults, and apprentices

not even needing pay! We understand that also they are useful in the

fact that they are far more agile therefore being able to crawl under

machinery easily so then they can fix broken threads.

I was concerned to hear of disturbing cases of:

* Cramped and dank/ dark working conditions with an awful stench

* Impossibly long hours

* Ill treatment, i.e. beatings etc

* Poor protection from machinery

* Deformation due to your work

I talked to:

Robert Blincoe, apprentice from the age of 7.

Elizabeth Bentley, 23, change the flyers on the frame when full etc.

Joseph Hebergam, 17.

Each worker provided me with important evidence for my report, for

example:

* Robert Blincoe had to work in smelly, noisy conditions, with dust

and flue suffocating him. He had to constantly stoop to do his

task and was forbidden from a quick break and was made to work for

6 and a half hours without rest. He became so deformed because of

his work he has had to leave work.

* Elizabeth Bentley was expected to be constantly on her feet and

had to run about in order to change the frames. If she slowed for

a minute to catch her breath then they would be strapped, their

parents were to scared to do anything about this for the fear of

losing their jobs. Where Elizabeth was made to work she injured

herself and has now become deformed.

* Joseph Hebergam had worked for but half a year and then he could