22/06/2026
By the late 1500s, the dangers posed by chimneys were well recognised in England.
In 1582, an ordinance was enacted to regulate chimney construction, mandating the use of brick or stone instead of plastered timber and requiring chimneys to be swept four times a year to prevent the build-up of flammable soot.
Failure to comply could result in a fine of 3 shillings and 4 pence.
With the rapid urbanization brought by industrialization, the number of houses with chimneys increased dramatically, making chimney sweeps highly sought after.
As buildings grew taller, chimneys became more complex, with multiple flues grouped together. The winding routes of these flues often included sharp angles and horizontal sections, with narrow passages designed to improve airflow—typically measuring around 14 inches by 9 inches (36 × 23 cm).
Some were even more restrictive; Buckingham Palace had a flue with 15 angles, narrowing to just 9 inches by 9 inches (23 × 23 cm). Chimney sweeping became one of the most demanding, hazardous, and poorly paid trades of the time.
A chimney sweep in Wexford, Ireland in 1850.
