Remembering George Brewster: The boy whose death in Cambridge changed child labour laws

A blue plaque will be unveiled today in Cambridgeshire to honour an 11-year-old boy whose tragic death in a chimney helped bring about changes in child labour laws.

Joanna Hudson, who led the campaign for the plaque, believes it is vital that George Brewster’s story is remembered. "All children today should know his name," she said. "His death led to real change, and we owe it to him to keep his legacy alive."

George died in 1875 after suffocating while cleaning a chimney in Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire. His case gained national attention and influenced the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury’s campaign to end child chimney sweeping. Joanna first came across his story in 2019 when a quiz question at a local event asked about a boy whose death changed children’s lives. She was shocked that no one knew the answer.

"His story was a catalyst for reform," she explained. "Within years of his death, there was a push for compulsory education and further child labour protections. Yet, his name has been forgotten."

Joanna hopes the blue plaque will bring visibility to George’s impact. "Children learn about the Industrial Revolution and child labour laws, but they don’t hear about George. This plaque is a way to change that," she said.

Beyond the plaque, Joanna is calling for national recognition. "He wasn’t the only child to suffer, but his name is recorded in Parliament because his case drove change," she said. "We need a statue or another lasting tribute, perhaps even near Shaftesbury Avenue, to ensure his contribution isn’t lost to history."

The master sweep responsible for George’s death was sentenced to six months' hard labour. Joanna discovered that officials falsely recorded George’s age as 14 to avoid legal consequences, but a police investigation confirmed he was only 11.

"Even after he died, they were being deceitful," she said. "He represents so many other children who endured hardship."

The blue plaque, which will be unveiled at the former asylum site in Fulbourn, set to take place on the 150th anniversary of George’s death.

1875 – George Brewster’s Tragic Death

George Brewster was an 11-year-old boy from Cambridge, working as an apprentice for a master chimney sweep.

During the Victorian era, it was common for young children, particularly boys, to be employed as chimney sweeps. They were small enough to climb inside narrow flues and clean soot buildup, often working in dangerous conditions.

On 11th February 1875, George was sent to clean a chimney at Fulbourn Asylum in Cambridgeshire. The asylum, a large institutional building, had complex and narrow chimney systems.

While climbing inside one of the chimneys, George became trapped in the flue.

His employer, a master sweep named William Wyer, failed to rescue him in time. The confined space and lack of air caused George to suffocate inside the chimney.

His body was later recovered, and an inquest was held into the circumstances of his death.

His Case Gains National Attention

News of George’s tragic death quickly spread and was widely reported in newspapers across Britain.

The case highlighted the continued dangers of child chimney sweeping, a practice that had already been partially restricted by previous legislation but was still widely used.

The 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, a leading social reformer known for his efforts to improve working conditions for children, read about George’s death and vowed to take action.

Shaftesbury had long campaigned against child labour and had previously helped introduce laws to protect working children.

George’s death became a turning point in the movement against child chimney sweeps, as it provided undeniable evidence of the dangers involved.

The case was discussed in Parliament, increasing public pressure for stricter laws to protect children from hazardous labour.

Changes in Child Labour Laws

Later in 1875, following continued pressure from campaigners and social reformers, new legislation was introduced to further restrict child labour in dangerous trades.

The updated laws prohibited the employment of young children as chimney sweeps, effectively ending the practice that had claimed George’s life.

Authorities also began enforcing existing regulations more strictly, ensuring that those who broke child labour laws faced legal consequences.

Within a few years of George’s death, campaigners pushed for compulsory education for all children, reinforcing the idea that children belonged in schools, not hazardous workplaces.

The introduction of these laws marked a major step towards improving child welfare in Victorian Britain, and George Brewster’s case was widely recognised as a key moment in the movement for reform.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.