William
Dodd toured Britain
in 1841 to collect evidence to help Lord Ashley
and the factory reform movement. His book The
Factory System Illustrated
was published in 1842. The book included and interview with
Benjamin
Gomersal from Bradford.
Child
Labour Debate Activity (International School of Toulouse)
Child
Labour Simulation (Spartacus Educational)
(1)
Benjamin
Gomersal of Bowling Lane, Bradford, was interviewed by William
Dodd
in 1842.
I
am about twenty-five years old. I have been a piecer at Mr. Cousen's
worsted mill, I have worked nowhere else. I commenced working in
a worsted mill at nine years of age. Our hours of labour were from
six in the morning to seven and eight at night, with thirty minutes
off at noon for dinner. We had no time for breakfast or drinking.
The
children conceive it to be a very great mischief; to be kept so
long in labour; and I believe their parents would be very glad if
it was not so. I
found it very hard and laborious employment. I had 2s. per week
at first. We had to stoop, to bend our bodies and our legs.
I was a healthy and strong boy, when I first went to the mill. When
I was about eight years old, I could walk from Leeds to Bradford
(ten miles) without any pain or difficulty, and with a little fatigue;
now I cannot stand without crutches! I cannot walk at all! Perhaps
I might creep up stairs. I go up stairs backwards every night! I
found my limbs begin to fail, after I had been working about a year.
It came on with great pain in my legs and knees. I am very much
fatigued towards the end of the day. I cannot work in the mill now.
The overlooker beat me up to my work! I have been beaten till I
was black and blue and I have had my ears torn! Once I was very
ill with it. He beat me then, because I mixed a few empty bobins,
not having any place to put them in separate. we were beaten most
at the latter end of the day, when we grew tired and fatigued. The
highest wages I ever had in the factory, were 5s. 6d. per week.
My mother is dead; my father was obliged to send me to the mill,
in order to keep me. I had to attend at the mill after my limbs
began to fail. I could not then do as well as I could before. I
had one shilling a week taken off my wages. I had lost several inches
in height. I had frequently to stand thirteen and fourteen hours
a day, and to be continually engaged. I was perfectly straight before
I entered on this labour.
Other boys were deformed in the same way. A good many boys suffered
in their health, in consequence of the severity of their work. I
am sure this pain, and grievous deformity, came from my long hours
of labour. My father, and my friends, believe so to. It is the opinion
of all the medical men who have seen me.
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