The National Archives Education Service 
1833 Factory Act Did it solve the problems of children in factories? 

Illustrated London News - ZPER 34/19 
 

## Introduction Lesson At A Glance The Factory Act Suitable For: Ks3 Time Period:

In 1833 the Government passed a Factory Act to improve conditions for children working in factories. Young children were working very long hours in workplaces where conditions were often terrible. The basic act was as follows: 

## Empire And Industry 1750-1850 Curriculum Link:

 no child workers under nine years of age  employers must have an age certificate for their child workers 
 children of 9-13 years to work no more than nine hours a day 
 children of 13-18 years to work no more than 12 hours a day 
 children are not to work at night  two hours schooling each day for children  four factory inspectors appointed to enforce the law 

## Ideas, Political Power, Industry And Empire: Britain, 1745-1901

However, the passing of this act did not mean that the mistreatment of children stopped overnight. Using these sources, investigate how the far the act had solved the problems of child labour. 

## Contents:

 Britain as the first industrial nation - the impact on society. 

 Party politics, extension of the franchise and social reform. 

## Learning Objective:

Background:                                                3 
Teacher's notes:                                         4 Source One:                                                5 Source Two:                                                6 
To explain how successful the 1833 Factory Act was at solving the problems of children in factories. 

Source Two (Transcript):                           7 Source Three:                                              8 

Resources needed: 
Printed sources, pens  

Source Four:                                                9 

 
Extension Tasks available: Yes - see Teacher's notes 

## Background

As the Industrial Revolution gathered pace thousands of factories sprang up all over the country. There were no laws relating to the running of factories as there had been no need for them before. As a result, dangerous machinery was used that could, and frequently did, cause serious injuries to workers. To add to these dangers, people were required to work incredibly long hours - often through the night. Perhaps one of the worst features of this new industrial age was the use of child labour. Very young children worked extremely long hours and could be severely punished for any mistakes. Arriving late for work could lead to a large fine and possibly a beating. Dozing at a machine could result in the accidental loss of a limb. People began to realise how bad these conditions were in many factories and started to campaign for improvements. There was a lot of resistance from factory owners who felt it would slow down the running of their factories and make their products more expensive. Many people also did not like the government interfering in their lives. Some parents, for instance, needed their children to go out to work from a young age, as they needed the money to help feed the family. Not all factory owners kept their workers in bad conditions however. Robert Owen, who owned a cotton mill in Lanark, Scotland, built the village of New Lanark for his workers. Here they had access to schools, doctors and there was a house for each family who worked in his mills. By 1833, the Government passed what was to be the first of many acts dealing with working conditions and hours. At first, there was limited power to enforce these acts but as the century progressed the rules were enforced more strictly. Nonetheless, the hours and working conditions were still very tough by today's standards, and no rules were in place to protect adult male workers. 

Listed below are details of the legislation (laws) that was introduced to improve working conditions in factories. 

 

| Date                                           | Industry    | Details of law                                      |
|------------------------------------------------|-------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| 1833                                           | Textiles    | No child workers under nine years                   |
| Reduced hours for children 9-13 years          |             |                                                     |
| Two hours schooling each day for children      |             |                                                     |
| Four factory inspectors appointed              |             |                                                     |
| 1844                                           | Textiles    | Children 8-13 years could work six half-hours a day |
| Reduced hours for women (12) and no night work |             |                                                     |

1847 
Textiles 
Women and children under 18 years of age could not work more than ten hours a day 
1867 
All Industries 
Previous rules applied to workhouses if more than five workers employed 
1901 
All Industries 
Minimum age raised to 12 years 
 
Useful links: 
New Lanark 
Site with photographs and information about Robert Owen's Mill. (http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lanark/newlanark/index.html) 

## Teacher'S Notes

This lesson provides pupils with the opportunity to arrive at a conclusion based upon evidence. Pupils could also be encouraged to look at the evidence with a critical approach. 

 
Tasks: 
Source One: This is an extract from a Factory Inspectors Report (1836). 

 Who gave the evidence to the factory inspector?  Work out how many hours (not including breaks), the boys are reported to have worked without stopping  Which parts of the new Factory Act have been broken? 
 What does the tone of the letter tell us about what the factory inspectors thought about the firm Taylor, 
Ibbotson & Co? 
 Having studied this source, would you be right to conclude that the 1833 Factory Act did nothing to solve 
the problems of child workers? Explain your answer. 
 
Source Two: This is a piece of a document detailing which companies broke the law. 

 What is the most common offence recorded?  Work out how much is fined for the different offences  By looking at the fines, which offence is regarded as the most serious?  How effective was the 1833 Factory Act? Explain your answer. (Hint: is the number of convictions a good or 
bad sign?) 
 
Source Three: This is a photograph of workers in a factory in 1903. 

 What kind of factory is the boy working in?  How old do you think he is? 
 Write a list of all the dangers you can see in the factory and what you think could be done to improve them 
 This photograph is from 1903, 70 years after the first Factory Act. Explain whether you think work in the 
factory had improved for child workers by this time 
 Is the illustration at the top of this page and this photograph reliable evidence of working conditions in a 
factory? Give reasons for your answer. 

## Suggested Activities:

 You are one of the four factory inspectors in 1836 trying to enforce the Factory Act. You have seen the 
evidence of abuse of the the law and you are unhappy with the present system. Write a letter to the Home Secretary suggesting ways to improve the law and better methods of enforcing it. 
 Design a poster to campaign against, or for, child labour in the factories.  Have a class debate on child labour with half of the class arguing for child labour. 
 
Extension Questions: 
 How reliable is this evidence regarding the success of the 1833 Factory Act?  What other evidence would you like see to help you make a decision? 

## Source One - Factory Inspectors Report (1836).

Extract from a Factory Inspectors report - British Parliamentary Papers (1836) No 353 
 

1. Who gave the evidence to the factory inspector? 


2. Work out how many hours (not including breaks), the boys are reported to have worked without stopping 
 
3. Which parts of the new Factory Act have been broken? 


4. What does the tone of the letter tell us about what the factory inspectors thought about the firm Taylor, 
Ibbotson & Co? 


5. Having studied this source, would you be right to conclude that the 1833 Factory Act did nothing to solve 
the problems of child workers? Explain your answer 

## Transcript

My Lord, in the case of Taylor, Ibbotson & Co.  I took the evidence from the mouths of the boys themselves. They stated to me that they commenced working on Friday morning, the 27th of May last, at six A.M., and that, with the exception of meal hours and one hour at midnight extra, they did not cease working till four o'clock on Saturday evening, having been two days and a night thus engaged.  Believing the case scarcely possible, I asked every boy the same questions, and from each received the same answers.  I then went into the house to look at the time book, and in the presence of one of the masters, referred to the cruelty of the case, and stated that I should certainly punish it with all the severity in my power.  Mr Rayner, the certificating surgeon of Bastile, was with me at the time.

 

## Source Two - Reports Of Inspectors Of Factories 1863

Extract from the Reports of Inspectors of Factories (No 3390) 
 
This is a piece of a document detailing which companies broke the law. 

## Source Two - Transcript Transcript Of An Extract From The Reports Of Inspectors Of Factories (No 3390)

Date 
Nature of the Offence.  
Names and Addresses of Persons summoned.  
Names of the Magistrates who heard the Case, and place of Hearing.  
1862 Sept 20 
Mary Jones, 
Courtgwillym, near Bridgend, Glamorganshire  
Richard Franklyn and 
Charles Knight, Esqrs., and Captain Quin; Town Hall, Bridgend.  
Informations laid by Mr.Buller. Employing three young persons after 6p.m.  
" 24 
John Jones, Forest Factory, near Newbridge, Glamorganshire.  
William Perkins, Esq., and the Rev.Evan Morgan; Newbridge, Glamorganshire.  
Employing three young persons and one female (adult) after 6p.m.  
" 26  
William Llewellyn, Lamb and Flag Factory, Glynneath near Neath.  
Ilowel Gwyn and Griffith Llewellyn, Esqrs.; Town Hall, Neath  
Employing three young persons and two children after 6p.m.  
Oct.1  
John Howell, 
Mynyddislwyn, near Blackwood, Monmouthshire. 
Frederick Levick, Esq., 
and the Rev.Edward Leigh: Tredegar, Monmouthshire.  
Employing four 
young persons after 2 p.m. on Saturday.  
" 8  
Samuel P, Harris, Glyn Gwenffrwd, near Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.  
Employing two young persons and two children after 2p.m. on Saturday  
The Honourable W.P.Rodney, Rev. James Farquhar, W.W.Manning and Thomas Davis, Esqrs. ; Town Hall, Abergavenny  
July 21  
William Kirk, Burnley.  
Thomas Hordern Whittaker and John Neels Esqrs.; Burnley  
Employing two young persons without surgical certificates 

## 

Remarks  
Amount of Penalty. 
Amount of Costs.  
£ s. d. 1 0 0 
£ s. d. 1 0 0 
Two cases 
withdrawn on payment of costs.  
1 0 0 
1 10 3 
Three cases withdrawn on payment of costs.  
2 0 0 
3 9 0 
Four cases withdrawn on payment of costs.  
1 0 0  
2 15 0 
Three cases 
withdrawn on payment of costs.  
- - -  
1 14 0 
Withdrawn on payment of costs  
3 0 0 
1 0 0  
One summons withdrawn on payment of costs, in consideration of the state of trade  
 

## Source Three - Photograph Of Workers In A Factory 1903

Photograph of workers in a factory 1903 (COPY 1/501) 
factory had improved for child workers by this time 
 

 
1. What kind of factory is the 
boy working in? 


2. How old do you think he is? 


3. Write a list of all the dangers you can see in the factory and what you think could be done to improve them 

## Source Four - Illustration Of Workers In A Factory 1851

Illustrated London News - Dean Mills, Doubling Room (ZPER 34/19) Are the illustration on this page and the photograph in Source Three reliable evidence of working conditions in a factory? Give reasons for your answer.