In the early part of Victoria's reign children were still sent up chimneys to clean them or onto roofs to repair them, in both cases their small size and low weight were advantages. In the cotton and wool mills of Lancashire and Yorkshire they were often used to perform maintenance work on machines while they were still running.
Children as young as 9 still went down the mines, usually not to actually dig coal, but to carry messages, look after the ponies, maintain the lights etc.
Children as young as 9 still went down the mines, usually not to actually dig coal, but to carry messages, look after the ponies, maintain the lights etc.