British Chimney Sweeps: A Definitive Social History [Hardcover]

Benita Cullingford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2000

Covering over 500 years of the chimney sweeping trade, this meticulously researched book covers all aspects of the sweep's lifestyle. It looks at a sweep's rise from apprentice to journeyman and ultimately to mastersweep, health, education, sports, legislation and reform and other topics. This contribution to social history not only illuminates the life and times of sweeps but also reveals the society in which they lived.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An intriguing social history. (Peter Reading Times Literary Supplement )

A lively social history, full of meticulous research. (Fires and Fireplaces )

A fascinating piece of industrial and social history. (Herts Advertiser )

The art of chimney sweeping is examined in detail for the first time in Benita Cullingford's lively and fascinating book...this definitive work makes extremely interesting reading. (Best Of British )

Impressive...delightful.... An absolute must. (Martin Glynn )

Well researched.... Enlivened by anecdotes and intriguing glimpses of a sweep's life. (G. D. M. Frizelle ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Benita Cullingford is a teacher of speech and drama, whose fascination with the history of chimney sweeps has led to the publication of many articles on the subject. She is writing a television drama series about eighteenth-century chimney sweeps and has given lectures on women traders. She lives in Hertfordshire, England, and is married with two daughters. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Book Guild Ltd (June 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857764528
• ISBN-13: 978-1857764529
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,875,509 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Meticulously researched, very readable, May 25, 2010

By 

Laura "raphaelsmuse" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: British Chimney Sweeps: Five Centuries of Chimney Sweeping (Paperback)

When I first picked up this book, I knew next to nothing about the chimney sweeping trade. This book was easy to read, extremely interesting, and well-researched. I never knew there was so much information about chimney sweeps out there! If you want to know anything about chimney sweeping for the past five hundred years, this is the book. It makes for very interesting history and a wonderful read.

4.0 out of 5 stars Chimney Peep, March 14, 2010

By 

Bartok Kinski "A casual stroll through the lu... (Prague) - See all my reviews

This review is from: British Chimney Sweeps: Five Centuries of Chimney Sweeping (Paperback)

Chimney Sweep is an honored profession because you get to see the inside of wealthy homes that you would normally never see. I did it for 6 months and let me tell you, it's a difficult and smelly job. I had so much soot on my clothes and inside my lungs that I couldn't breath properly for 1 year after, plus you have foot problems from crawling into the tight space. It's very dangerous.

The book is very good presenting a concise history, namely in England where Chimney Sweeps are associated with Old Knick Chimney Peep the Pervert.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating account of the chimney sweep trade, December 21, 2001

By 

Margaret Padgitt (Independence, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: British Chimney Sweeps: A Definitive Social History (Hardcover)

Interesting, well-written account of what life was like as a chimney sweep and climbing boy before modern times. Ms. Cullingford brings out little-known facts about the trade, making this book an interesting read for both chimney sweeps and the general public. I highly recommend it!