Chimney sweep honoured with blue plaque in Cambridge to mark pivotal moment in history
The tragic death of an 11-year-old chimney sweep in 1875 led to the end of child labour in England and will be commemorated with a blue plaque on its 150th anniversary next month
An official blue plaque will be unveiled on 11 February to honour George Brewster, an 11-year-old chimney sweep whose death in 1875 became a catalyst for the end of child labour in England.
George, the last "climbing boy" to die in the country, became the focus of a successful campaign to ban the practice of forcing children to clean chimneys.
The plaque will be installed at Victoria House in Fulbourn, Cambridge, where George lost his life while cleaning a chimney at the County Pauper Lunatic Asylum. On 11 February 1875, George became trapped inside the chimney, and rescuers pulled down part of the wall to free him. Despite their efforts, he died shortly after being removed.
George’s death spurred the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury to push through legislation in Parliament, resulting in an Act passed later that year, finally outlawing the use of children as "climbing boys." This legislative success ended a 35-year campaign led by the Earl and marked the beginning of broader reforms to end child labour across industries.
Joanna Hudson, an amateur historian from Pampisford, launched the campaign to commemorate George. She spent years researching his life and worked with local organisations, including the Cambridge & District Blue Plaque Scheme, to secure approval for the plaque. "George Brewster deserves our recognition," Joanna said. "His story is one of immense historical importance, and it’s vital that we remember the sacrifices children like him made."
The unveiling ceremony, set to take place on the 150th anniversary of George’s death, is supported by various organisations, including Longfellow Real Estate Partners and the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps. Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury, will unveil the plaque. Joanna added, “Every child should know George’s name. His legacy represents the countless children who suffered in the Victorian era, and it reminds us of the importance of safeguarding children’s rights.”
James Littlewood, CEO, Cambridge Past Present Future said: “This is the first Blue Plaque application we have received for a child. 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.”
Lawson Wight, Chairman of the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps said: “George’s story was not well known among today’s chimney sweeps – it will be now. This unique blue plaque will help raise awareness of a time of great change. It’s important to understand the history and how tireless political campaigning and a tragic event have changed all of our lives for the better.
“Every modern sweep will have found it a sobering thought that many of the chimneys they sweep were once worked by climbing boys'
George Brewster’s story also led to the recommendation for compulsory education for children in 1876, with the Education Act of 1880 making school attendance mandatory.
Next month, he will join a distinguished group of Cambridge blue plaque recipients, including Charles Darwin and Alan Turing, as the youngest person ever to be honoured in this way.