The London Times
Children in the factories
During today’s investigation, we
investigated claims about a local factory
to find out about how the children there
worked. We discovered all kinds of
things, such as what kind of accidents
could happen and how the children
worked.
the children’s work could not be easier!
Many of the jobs that children did in the
factories included working on a power
loom. One of our claims told us, “No
man would like to work on a power
loom. There is such a clattering it would
make some men go mad.” This was told
to a Parliamentary committee, who was
investigating factory conditions, by a
young worker.
grime on their food is what was making
Another young worker from a mill
claimed that, “You cannot take food out
of a basket or handkerchief, because it
gets covered in dust. The children are
frequently sick because of the dust and
dirt they eat with their meals.” This
meant a lot of the children who worked
in factories and mills would not be able
to eat healthily, as dust and dirt would
constantly get onto their food.
educated. The apprentices have milk –
Shown by the claims these young
workers have made, factory working
conditions must have been extremely
harsh. The food would be
contaminated, the work would be loud
and these workers would have to work
many long hours like in these
conditions.
treated with much care.
Unfortunately, work and food were not
the only problems these children would
face. If the children did not work hard or
fast enough, they were punished very
harshly. They would be beaten with
whatever was nearest - a horswhip,
strap, stick, hammer, handle, file, or if
there were no objects they were beaten
with a fist or kicked. They were fed
cheap foods and forced to work hard.
Strangely enough, compared to the
children’s statements, factory workers
thought their factories and children were
perfect and safe.
Edward Baines, a co-worker of a factory,
claimed in his newspaper that he thought
He wrote, “The children stand up straight,
walk about and even have the
opportunity to sit down if they want. The
tiny fibres of cotton (dust) in the air are
said, even by medical men, not to be
harmful to young persons.”
As we have heard, children in the
factories have told us that the dust and
them sick.
Andrew Ure, a factory owner, claimed, “I
have visited many factories and I never
saw punishment of a child. The children
seemed to be cheerful and alert. They
enjoy expressing how good they are at
their work to any stranger. They show no
sign of being exhausted at the end of the
day. They are well fed, clothed and
porridge for breakfast, potatoes and
bacon for dinner, and meat on Sundays.”
These claims all prove that factories are
indeed not what they may seem.
Accidents, such as losing fingers, having
hair trapped in machines or even death
happen frequently, and children are not
Many factory owners and co-owners’
claims are most likely false. They will tell
us that their workers are happy and safe,
only to be able to hold up their own
reputations.
Children in factories are most definitely
treated unfairly. They work (on average)
sixteen hours a day (without breaks) and
became easily diseased by cotton in the
air.