Chimney sweep apprentices were used extensively in the 17th and 18th century to climb chimneys to get rid of the soot that had accumulated in them. Most of them were children, sometimes as young as six and were exposed to dreadful working conditions.

One of the problems was exposure to soot and the chemicals it contained which lead to a far greater incidence of scrotal cancer amongst chimney sweep apprentices compared to the general population. Another problem was alcoholism, which was rife in these children.

Their normal day involved getting up in the middle of the night and climbing up their first chimney to clean it at about four in the morning. They were then expected to clean between six and eight chimneys every day. After each visit, the servants of the household offered the chimney sweep and his apprentice a pint of ale. After six or eight pints, the chimney sweep apprentice would finish his days work at about lunchtime and spend the rest of the day sleeping off the alcohol. Many became alcoholics because they did this every day