Factories & Workhouse Act 1878

Fragments of old documents remain all around the Mill which were originally pasted to the wooden walls. Nowerdays most are protected behind glass. Of particular note is the Factories & Workshop Act of 1878 although there's no much remaining to read or make much sense. We've also yet to do a full investigation into finding a legible cope.

However, what is know is that at the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign children as young as five or six worked 12 hours a day in all kinds of jobs. They worked in mines, factories, mills, as chimney sweeps and on farms and were often exposed to dangerous conditions and treated badly. Campaigners like Lord Shaftesbury brought this cruelty to the attention of Parliament and several pieces of legislation such as the 1874 Factory Act were brought in to protect children. Nowadays it is illegal for anyone under the age of 16 to have a full-time job.

The Factory and Workshop Act 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c. 16) brought all the previous Acts together in one consolidation.

• Now the Factory Code applied to all trades.
• No child anywhere under the age of 10 was to be employed.
• Compulsory education for children up to 10 years old.
• 10-14 year olds could only be employed for half days.
• Women were to work no more than 56 hours per week