Chimney sweeps and stove installers in Wiltshire and Somerset, in numbers

A short history

For many years, children worked as climbing boys, sent up chimneys to clean them. The London Museum says a law of 1788 tried to regulate the employment of child sweeps but was not enforced. Further laws in 1834, 1840 and 1865 also failed to end the practice ³. The museum says the death of George Brewster, the last climbing boy to die from his work, led to the Chimney Sweepers Act 1875. It required sweeps to be licensed and made the police enforce earlier rules ³.

The Act is cited as 1875 c. 70 ¹. Its full text sets out how this worked ²:

• The chief officer of police in each district could issue a certificate authorising a person to carry on business as a chimney sweeper (section 5).
• The fee was two shillings and sixpence, and a certificate lasted one year (sections 10 and 11).
• Each chief officer kept a register of certificates (section 14).
• Working without a certificate carried a fine of up to 10 shillings for a first offence (section 15).

Smoke rules came later. The Clean Air Act 1993 covers dark smoke from chimneys and the creation of smoke control areas ⁴.

I found no source for Wiltshire or Somerset specifics.

What it costs

No published price for chimney sweeping could be found from an official source. Prices vary by firm.

Who checks the trade

There is no government licence for chimney sweeps today that this research could find. The 1875 police certificate scheme is history.

Trade body. The National Association of Chimney Sweeps (NACS) was formed in 1982 as a trade association. It has over 700 members. Members follow a code of practice and a code of conduct, and give a certificate of chimney sweeping after each job ⁶. To check a sweep ⁶:

• use the “Find a Chimney Sweep” directory at nacs.org.uk/find-sweep/;
• ask to see the member’s NACS identity card;
• phone the association on 01785 336555.

Stoves and fuel. In a smoke control area you cannot release smoke from a chimney. You can only burn authorised fuel unless you use an appliance approved by Defra, known as an exempt appliance. Wood can only be burned in exempt appliances. In England a penalty of up to £300 can apply if your chimney releases smoke in a smoke control area. Buying unauthorised fuel for a non-approved appliance can bring a fine of up to £1,000. Ask your local council whether your address is in a smoke control area ⁵.