Family life in every Victorian home centers around the flickering, crackling fireplace but, the warmth and cheery light of the hearth requires filthy and dangerous work to keep it lit. For the next few weeks, we’re going to examine the humble vocation of the Chimney Sweep and their possible uses at the gaming table
New safety regulations after the Great Fire of London reduced the lawful width of a chimney’s interior down to 14 inches. The change from wood to coal as fuel for the fire increased the speed of soot accumulation in the now narrowed chimney flues. Coal fires covered the flue in creosote, and the inevitable soot stuck to the creosote forming thick deposits which could perfectly plug up the chimney if left to accumulate long enough. A clogged flue prevents fresh air from passing over the flames causing a weak fire in the hearth and the stray soot floats into the room blackening any surface it touches. Worse, with no escape up the chimney, smoke and carbon monoxide fills the air around the fireplace. An upward flying spark could ignite the accumulation of creosote in a flue causing the entire chimney to catch fire!
To prevent these disasters, every home relies on chimney sweeps to clean their flue free of soot and clogs. The sweep comes early in the morning when the chimneys are cool and unused. He walks down the street calling “Swe-ep, Swe-ep”, carrying his soot-stained bristles, brushes, and long sections of hollow rods made of flexible cane reeds. Using these rods he extends his bristles to the top of the highest chimneys. His clothes and skin are black with soot from the top of his cap to his shoes. The room around the hearth has been prepared for his messy profession by the removal of all knickknacks, carpets, and valuables. Sheets cover all furniture and mirrors. A roll of cheap fabric, such as drugget (a coarse woolen fabric) forms a walkway to protect the floor from sooty footprints.
Once his bristles burst out of the chimney pot on the roof, the flue is clear. Depending on the height, a sweep could charge anywhere from 6p for the chimney of a small cottage, or up to three shillings for a very tall complex chimney with multiple hearths. Many sweeps offer an 11 shilling subscription to service a home’s chimneys for a year. Chimney Sweeps make further income by collecting and selling the soot and ash they scrape free of the flue. The thick tarry mixture can be used for fertilizer, wood preservatives, pest control, and a number of pharmacological applications. A bushel of chimney scrapings sells for 10p up to a whole shilling. Should a chimney fire ignite, the emergency extinguishing by a sweep called to the home deserves a gift of 5 shillings in gratitude.
Adventure Ideas:
A number of chimney sweeps have disappeared, each while cleaning the flue of one particular house. The increasingly desperate occupants offer an extremely generous sum to clear their chimney, but all the local sweeps steer clear for fear of also vanishing.
A sweep found a few scraps of partially burnt paper mixed in with the soot collected from the flue of an aristocratic townhouse. The words on the paper hint toward dark magic and murder.
A killer-for-hire, know to the terrified public as “Mr. Soot”, climbs down his victim’s chimneys, and leaves black stains around their broken necks.
Next week, we’ll continue our look at Chimney Sweeps with the tragic use of the children as sweeps and the horrific health risks of the job.
A killer-for-hire, know to the terrified public as “Mr. Soot”, climbs down his victim’s chimneys, and leaves black stains around their broken necks.
Next week, we’ll continue our look at Chimney Sweeps with the tragic use of the children as sweeps and the horrific health risks of the job.
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