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Crossing-sweeper nuisance Crossing-sweeper nuisance 1856
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Crossing-sweeper nuisance Crossing-sweeper nuisance 1856
Group of young children with brooms, sweeping the ground as a gentleman walks alone, asking for a ha penny. Date: 1856
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Media ID 23054324
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1850s 1856 1858 Barefoot Beggars Begging Broom Crossing Money Nuisance Pauper Poor Punch Rich Sweeper Sweepers Sweeping Ha Penny Hapenny
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph, titled 'Crossing-sweeper nuisance' and dated 1856, captures a poignant scene from the 1850s. A group of barefoot children, clad in tattered clothing, are seen diligently sweeping the ground with their brooms on a bustling city street. In the foreground, a young boy, holding out his hand, implores a gentleman, dressed in fine attire and carrying a cane, for a ha'penny. The gentleman, seemingly oblivious to the children's presence, walks past them, his attention focused on his destination. The crossing-sweepers, or 'nuisances' as they were often referred to, were a common sight in urban areas during this period. These children, many of whom were paupers, would sweep the streets in exchange for the small change they could collect from passersby. The practice, while intended to help the children earn a living, was also seen as a nuisance and a blight on the urban landscape. This photograph offers a glimpse into the stark social divide between the rich and the poor during the 1850s. The contrast between the well-dressed gentleman and the barefoot, ragged children highlights the stark realities of poverty and the harsh living conditions endured by many during this era. The image also serves as a reminder of the resilience and resourcefulness of children, who despite their circumstances, continued to work to provide for themselves and their families.
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