All Work and No Play? The Well-Being of Children Living and Working in Nineteenth-Century Staffordshire, England

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the nineteenth century the Staffordshire pottery industry was in its heyday. Despite global interest in the Staffordshire potteries and associated collieries, very little research has explored the lives of children that worked in these industries. This research aims to redress the balance. Testimonies of workers, teachers, doctors and government officials, alongside clinical and census data will be used to gain an insight into juvenile well-being. This research has found that children worked in perilous environments which consequently affected their health and development. Furthermore, juveniles were at risk of physical abuse from their carers at home and in the workplace. Long working hours, poverty and domestic responsibilities prevented children from attending school and enjoying leisurely pursuits. However, the well-being of children gradually improved over the course of the century due to the implementation of new legislation.