Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury |
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Ashley's first attempt at introducing legislation to prevent this abuse of children was thrown out by Parliament in 1833. The very men he had to convince were often the landowners or mill owners that exploited the children. He kept trying and little by little he managed to get laws passed to lessen their suffering. However, it was not until 1875 that the Shaftesbury Act to abolish the practice of climbing boys sweeping chimneys was finally made law. |
Ragged SchoolsAshley puzzled about how to improve the literacy of the masses. Then he discovered the "ragged schools", which were springing up in various places, usually begun by London City Missionaries and other volunteers. Convinced that these schools were the best way of helping children to "climb out of the gutter", Ashley supported them enthusiastically, soon becoming president of the "Ragged School Union", an organization that still exists, though now known as the Shaftesbury Society. The Committee for Refuges (an offshoot of the Ragged School Union) also bought or leased houses for training boys and girls. These became known as "Shaftesbury Homes". |
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Burslem Ragged School Illustration used by kind permssion of S. Birks |
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Besides helping to establish the Ragged Schools, Ashley persuaded parliament to provide money to give opportunity for the most able pupils to emigrate to Australia, New Zealand and Canada. He also helped to provide work for those who stayed in England, including the famous "Shoe black brigade". They learned to be smart and efficient instead of roaming the streets and picking pockets. Many impressed their customers enough to be given better employment. He also persuaded the Admiralty to provide ships (such as Chichester and Arethusa) that were moored in the Thames where boys could learn trades or be trained for the Royal or Merchant Navies. |
| 'Ragged School' Illustration used by kind permssion of P. Mallett |
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