Reading, talking and whistling… ‘crimes’ that cost the 1850s child labourers a fine
THESE days a boss who caught a young employee reading a book would probably give him a promotion.
But back in the mid-19th century, it was enough to merit a fine for the boy labourers at the Royal Worcester porcelain factory.
Other misdemeanours which led to financial penalties included whistling, talking, singing, mouse hunting, breaking a milk jug and, more seriously, letting off fireworks.
The remarkable insight into life at the Worcester factory in the 1850s has emerged in a 300-page ledger called an ‘Excuses Book’, now on public display.
Apprentices, who joined at the age of eight, were paid only sixpence (2½p in today’s money) for their week’s work, so a fine would have been a severe blow to them.
Despite their strictness, however, the Victorian bosses had a softer side and at the end of each year the money was used to give the boys a trip to the seaside. One notorious apprentice, aged eight and identified only as Barker, was repeatedly fined for causing havoc at work. In his most outrageous act, in 1858, he was fined threepence for ‘letting off fireworks in shop’.
He was also fined threepence for ‘mouse hunting in shop’ on May 29, 1858, and another ha’penny on June 19 for ‘breaking milk jug’.
On October 9, the apprentice was fined a penny-ha’penny for ‘whistling during work time’. He was also fined a penny for ‘ continual talking when at work’.
Barker was forced to pay a penny on November 27 ‘for making disturbance in shop’ and another twopence on December 11 ‘for singing and denying it after’.
On January 5, 1859, the boy’s bad luck continued when he was fined
‘Making noises at work’
twopence ‘for making noises at work’. On other occasions, another apprentice was forced to pay fourpence-ha’penny for ‘going home before proper time’ and a penny-- ha’penny for ‘ reading when requested not to do so’. Amanda Savidge, the museum director, said that although working conditions were strict for the 30 to 50 apprentices, they were well looked after by their employer.
‘They started working as children, sweeping out the factory, but learned skills which allowed them to become artists, painters, mould makers – all important functions within the factory.
‘It was considered to be part of their education.
‘In fact the company was quite good in later years and encouraged people to take up additional training opportunities in the local area.
‘They had very strict rules and regulations, but all of the money that was taken from the fines was saved during the year and spent on taking them out for the day.’
She said that Barker’s misdemeanours would mainly be ‘considered absolutely normal behaviour for any young boy today but they were a no-no in those strict conditions’.
The book is on display until Sunday at the Antiques For Everyone fair at Birmingham NEC.