Samuel
Scriven interviewed employees from Stoke-on-Trent pottery works for the
Royal Commission on Children’s Employment in 1841. Some of the evidence
taken at Messrs Wood and Brownfield’s works — is reproduced below.
Messrs.
WOOD and BROWNFIELD's Earthenware Factory, Cobridge.
No.
208. Sarah Morris, aged 28, and Ann
Bradbury, aged 35:
We
are the superintendents of’ the apprentice girl’s painting department, and
have 24 females of all ages in the same room ; out of that number there are 10
children under 13 years of age. Most of them can read, but few write. They
come at seven in the morning, and leave at six; they - are allowed half an
hour for breakfast one hour for dinner. Some that live away off stay to get
their dinners in the work-rooms ; they cook them on the stove-pots; ; always
take their hour, and sometimes play before they begin work. Some live pretty
well,—others but middling. Their general conduct is tolerably good. We keep
our eyes upon them, and check anything like misconduct. They get their regular
holidays at wake times. We have no other rewards except that of putting them
forward in their trade. Have no punishments by making them paint extra pieces,
because they do piece-work, and all try to do as much as they can. They get
here half the price of journeywomen for the first five years. We think that
taking an equal number of girls from the painting-room and from other
occupations in the same sphere of life, in point of moral conduct the painters
would prove superior.
No.
209 Robert Humphries, aged 8 :
I
turn jigger for William Massey. Have been to work about six months. Can read a
little, not much—cannot write. Went to Catholic day school ; go now to
Sunday school ; go to the Methodist Chapel every Sunday. My father has been
dead four years. My mother lives at home ; her does nothing. I have a brother
six years old ; he goes to school. I get 10 1/2d. a week ; only work three
days a week. I get for breakfast milk-meat and dry bread ; gravy and tatees
for dinner, - sometimes onions. I come at hafe-past six ; go home at hafe-past
six ; get my supper, and go to bed very tired.
These
premises are extensive, rooms better than common.
February
11th. (1841)
more on the Scriven report
