Barefoot girls sifting dust in a brickyard, 1871
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Barefoot girls sifting dust in a brickyard, 1871
Barefoot girls sifting dust in a brickyard, 1871. The dust was coal or a mixture of iron and coal dust. It was estimated that at this time there were between 20, 000 and 30, 000 children aged between 5 and 16 at work in British brickyards
Heritage Images features heritage image collections
Media ID 14862967
© Oxford Science Archive / Heritage-Images
Brickyard Child Labour Dust Exploitation Hardship Oxford Science Archive Wheelbarrow Sifting Wood Engraving
EDITORS COMMENTS
This haunting photograph captures a grim reality of the 19th century - barefoot girls toiling in a brickyard. Taken in 1871, this image serves as a powerful reminder of the widespread child labor that plagued Britain during this era. The young girls, their faces etched with hardship, are seen sifting through dust which was composed of coal or a mixture of iron and coal dust. This dangerous task was just one among many that these children were forced to undertake in order to support themselves and their families. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 30,000 children aged between 5 and 16 were employed in British brickyards at the time. Their innocence stolen by exploitation, they were subjected to grueling work conditions without any regard for their well-being or education. The wheelbarrow beside them stands as a symbol of the heavy burdens they carried on their small shoulders. The wood engraving technique used adds depth to the monochrome composition, emphasizing the stark contrast between light and dark. As we gaze upon this print from Heritage Images' collection, let us not forget the countless lives affected by child labor during this period. It serves as an important testament to our progress since then but also reminds us of our duty to protect vulnerable children around the world today who still suffer under similar circumstances.
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