The life of a street hawker

Imagine this...
...it’s 1870 and as a wealthy member of Manchester’s higher society you are strolling through the streets of Manchester, maybe after a trip to the Theatre Royal on Peter Street, when suddenly a small boy approaches you.

“Buy a newspaper sir?” he pleads.
Looking at him you can see he is barely over 8 years old. He’s small for his age after a lifetime of living in a crowded basement flat in Angel Meadow, rarely getting enough to eat and being largely neglected by his careless parents. Their only words are to tell him to not bother coming home until he has enough money to buy them their drink for the night. It’s coming up to midnight and the anxious look on his face tells you that tonight he has not achieved this…

Street hawkers

This was not an isolated incident. When the Charity first started, members of its committee would take to the streets of Manchester, seeking out orphans and destitute boys who had taken to sleeping on the streets, in order to provide aid. During their quest they had come across hundreds of boys and girls who were sent out “to find money for drunken, vicious or careless parents” (Manchester Evening News, Monday 24th December 1877).

Leonard K. Shaw, founder of the Refuge instigated an investigation into this juvenile street hawking in 1877. One night at 9pm, the committee members went out onto the streets of Manchester and found that around 250 young children were selling wares or begging. None were orphans.

Extract from an admission form for street hawker Elizabeth R.
who was subsequently emigrated to Canada, December 1890

The result of this investigation was written up in a ‘Memorandum on Street Children’ and was sent among magistrates, members of parliament and the school boards. Further letters were sent to pressurise the matter:

"To the Right Hon. R. A. Cross, MP, Home Secretary – Sir – The committee of this institution desire respectfully to draw your attention to the memorial which they in common with other public bodies in this city, had the honour to present to you in May, 1878, on the subject of the night employment of street children, and to the fact that the evidence complained of is not abated. An experience of 10 years in the work of reclaiming these children has convinced this committee of the great evils, both physical and moral, resulting from the practice referred to; and they desire to express their earnest hope that you will by a brief Act this session, effectively remedy it. L. K. Shaw."

- The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, 7 February 1880.

Despite continued pressure it was not until the 1889 ‘Prevention of Cruelty to and Protection of Children Act’ came into being that restrictions were placed on the employment of children. This included prohibiting children under the age of 10 from selling wares on the streets.

                                                                                                                                                 
Want to know more about us? Why not visit our stand at the Manchester Histories Festival at Manchester Town Hall on Saturday 3rd March 2012.