B13

Nearly 300 years ago, many children from poor families (sometimes as young as four) worked as chimney sweeps. It was hard, dirty and dangerous work. The pay, however, was very low.

 DANGER

B14

So on the first of May chimney sweeps were allowed to have some fun and celebrate their 'Sweeps holiday'. Dickens described these celebrations in his works.

 CELEBRATE

B15

In 1860, Parliament passed a law that made it illegal to use young boys to clean inside chimneys, and the traditional celebration died out.

 LEGAL

B16

But in the 1980s, Gordon Newton, a Rochester historian, decided to revive the sweeps holiday.

 HISTORY

B17

He carefully researched the sweeps' tradition and studied Charles Dickens's descriptions of the event. In 1981 Newton organised a small parade with a group of dancers.

 CAREFUL

B18

The festival has now become very popular and attracts many thousands of visitors.  

 VISIT