: a person whose occupation is cleaning soot from chimney flues. called also chimney sweeper.
What do you call a chimney repair person?
A chimney sweep is a person who clears ash and soot from chimneys. … The creosote can also catch fire, setting the chimney and the building alight.
What is the job of chimney Boy?
These boys were used to climb up chimneys to clean out deposits of soot. The chimney sweep master taught them the trade while being responsible for feeding, clothing and housing them. Working conditions for the climbing boys was harsh and cruel.
Did chimney sweepers get paid?
From 1773, master chimney sweeps regularly kept anywhere from 2 to 20 children, depending on how many they could use for their business. For each child, the master sweep was paid 3-4 pounds by the government when the apprenticeship agreement was signed.
Why are sweeps lucky?
A chimney sweep pushed him to safety and the King, believing the sweep brought him good fortune, declared chimney sweeps lucky. … This is why having a chimney sweep at your wedding (and having him give a little smooch to the bride) is considered a good sign of things to come.
Why were there chimney sweepers?
Chimney sweeps began to be associated with restoring fresh air in homes and the sweeps themselves became a symbol of good hearth and good health. … Destitute parents would either sell their children to a chimney master or poor orphan boys were chosen for the trade.
How old were chimney sweeps in Victorian times?
The ideal age for a chimney sweep to begin working was said to be 6 years old, but sometimes they were used beginning at age 4. The child would shimmy up the flue using his back, elbows, and knees.
Is chimney sweep a good job?
For typical cleanings, chimney sweeps can do about 4 per day. Surprisingly chimney sweeps do a fantastic job of not leaving dirt and debris inside homes. It is definitely a dirty job though one that’s been featured on Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs.
What’s the top of the chimney called?
chimney crown A chimney crown, also known as a chimney wash, is a slab of cement that covers the top of the chimney. While the chimney cap covers the opening of the flue, the crown covers the whole top of the chimney. The crown prevents water from entering the chimney.
What happened to sweeps who grew too large?
Children who worked as chimney sweeps generally ranged from as young as 4 to about 10 years old, when they grew too big to fit down the tiny chimneys anymore. The children were often times underfed by their bosses to keep them skinny enough to fit in the extremely narrow chimneys.
Is it illegal to deny a chimney sweep in Germany?
EMILY HARRIS: Tom Drust is a third generation chimneysweep, and he’s a traditionalist. He really does wear a black top hat to work. Today, he’s dropping a metal brush on a rope weighted with a heavy ball down a 200-year-old chimney. And hand over hand, hauling it back up again.
Are chimney sweeps bats?
Chimney swifts are swallow-like birds that spend almost all of their time on the wing, capturing flying insects like flies and mosquitoes. In that regard, they are similar to bats. They are also mistaken for bats when large numbers are seen circling around chimneys or roofs at dusk.
Were Kids used to clean chimneys?
The small boys used as chimney sweeps were typically between 5 and 10 years of age, and some were as young as 4 years old. They clambered up chimneys with brushing and scraping tools that knocked the creosote and soot from the chimney lining.
How much did a Victorian chimney sweep earn?
How much did Victorian chimney sweeps get paid? Families would work together in a team and the amount of money they earned depended on how much coal they brought up to the surface. A chimney sweep in the Victorian Era got paid about 10 Shillings in Europe.
What did chimney sweep wear?
When thinking of a chimney sweep, we instantly picture Mary Poppins’ right hand man, Bert. But before Bert and his well known cap, the chimney sweeps wore traditional black, a classic top hat, and maybe even tails. Why dress up to clean up? There are many legends behind the reason chimney sweeps wear top hats.
What does chimney sweep mean in Germany?
good luck But did you know that chimney sweeps in Germany are also a sign of good luck and are often invited to weddings to get the nuptials started on the right side of the coin? The origination of why a chimney sweep is good luck is not due to some exotic tale of adventure and magic.
What is the tradition of chimney sweep at a wedding?
Wedding Sweep Tradition has it that 200 years ago, a chimney sweep saved the life of King George II by stopping his runaway horse and carriage. … So started the tradition and because sweeps are lucky, couples would arrange to meet the sweep at their Wedding.
Why are chimney sweeps lucky in Germany?
The chimney sweep brings good luck in Germany for similarly pragmatic reasons: when the chimney was stopped up, the man in black had to be called in to clear the flue so you could finally cook your food again. A clean sweep also reduced the risk of setting the house on fire.
How did people clean chimneys?
Chimney sweeps use a heavy metal bristled brush to clean your chimney. These tools are long rods, with the bristles located at the very tip. Professional chimney sweeps will also be outfitted in gloves, goggles, and masks to protect themselves from the soot and ash.
When was the first chimney sweep?
The professional of chimney sweeping got its start in the 16th century in England. Originally, only the ruling class in England had chimneys, and chimney sweeps had the filthy job of keeping them clean.
When did child chimney sweeps stop?
In the early 1830s, as Parliament became more preoccupied generally with the exploitation of child labour, the Chimney Sweeps Act was passed in 1834 outlawing the apprenticing of any child below the age of ten.
Do chimney sweeps still exist?
Today, professional chimney sweeps are still in high demand though the profession is carried out in a much safer way than it used to be, adhering to regulations and requiring membership of professional bodies.
How much does a chimney sweep cost 2019 UK?
The most recent figures (Oct 2019) state that chimney cleaning costs range from 50-80 throughout most parts of the UK, but this can rise to 100 or more in London. That, however, is for a general sweep of the flue. Removing any blockages (fallen bricks, birds’ nests, etc.) may cost a little more.
How much money does a chimney sweep make?
Fairfax Media’s income interactive revealed an average income of about $34,000 for chimney sweeps in 2014-15, putting Mr Dare’s profession at 1015 in a list of 1199 jobs. Some other unusual jobs and their average incomes were: Bingo caller: $32,000.
Are chimney sweeps lucky?
The sweep swept the king to safety from a runaway carriage. The grateful king invited his rescuer to the upcoming wedding of his daughter and officially declared all chimney sweeps to be lucky. To this day, it’s considered good luck to invite a sweep to your wedding or other special occasion.
What qualifications does a chimney sweep need?
A chimney sweep needs to have a number of qualities; they need to be practical, problem solver, good communicator, professional, with good office skills and above all have the drive to increase and manage their business to be able to thrive.
What is the chimney crown?
The chimney crown is a slab of concrete that tops the masonry chimney. … It reaches from the liner to the outside of the chimney with a slight taper to allow water to run off the chimney. It should reach two inches over the chimney edge so that water runs off the chimney, and not down the side.
What are the parts of a chimney called?
The 7 Basic Parts of a Chimney
- 1 Chimney Flue. The chimney flue and the chimney liner are sometimes the same thing and sometimes not, which makes these arguably the most confusing parts of the chimney system. …
- 2 Chimney Liner. …
- 3 Chimney Cap. …
- 4 Chimney Flashing. …
- 5 Chimney Crown. …
- 6 Damper. …
- 7 Smoke Chamber.
What is chimney Flaunching?
It defines flaunching as: ‘a mortared slope around a chimney pot or at the top of a fireback. ‘ Flaunching is sometimes referred to as benching. It is often a mixture of mortar (typically a 3:1 ratio of especially strong sand and cement) that holds the chimney pot in place at the top of a chimney stack.
