Harry Townsend was known as
the little wonder walker, son of
Mr George Townsend he
was born in Bacup in 1895.
A frail little boy who
suffered often from ill
health the Bacup Times
reported in 1902, that after
taking a vegetarian diet
and plenty of fresh air he
had become stronger and as
recently undertaken some
remarkable walks for one so
young. He walked from Ilford to
Romford, a distance of 21 miles in 4 and 3/4 hours.
Next he managed a circular walk from Rochdale to
Bacup, Walsden and Littleborough distance of 21 miles
in 5 hours 10 mins though he apparently had a head
wind against him for 10 miles. He also walked from
Rochdale to Halifax and on Saturday 17th October 1902
he covered the 19 miles from Chorley to Southport on
foot. The following Saturday he was due to walk from
Bury to Manchester but he died that morning. The doctor
had been to see him on the Thursday noting he had a
little inflammation of the tonsils an ailment he frequently
had but was otherwise perfectly well and had later
enjoyed some football practice. He later became ill again
and on the Friday the doctor was once again called and
diagnosed broncho pneumonia, and despite all that could
be done for him he died about 1.30 am on Saturday at
just nine years old and was buried in Bacup Cemetery.
Unfortunately his grave was vandalised and the top is
now missing.
Sadly accidents to children were commonplace, many of them ending
tragically to read some of these click
Many of the mills, coal mines, factories, in and around Bacup and Stacksteads employed
children, the pittance they earned ofen meant the difference between their families
starving.In 1840 the mills ran for 14- 16 hours a day six days a week and this applied to
children as well as adults. Itwas commonplace to bring in children from other parishes,
children who were orphaned living in workhouses were often brought to work in the mills as
the folliwng report from the Bacup Times of 1866 shows:
Such is the difficulty experienced in obtaining hands for the cotton
manufacturers that applications have been made by several firms to the board of
guardians for all the children they can send to be apprenticed to the trade. The
hours of labour, education and other advantages offered are more favourable
than usually fall to the lot of the parish apprentice.
Children were often apprenticed to other trades as well and not all
were treated well, in 1863 a young man named Ralph Jackson,
who had been a resident of the Blue Coat School in Oldham, had
been apprenticed to a Mr Moorey of Union Street, Tailors and drapers. Following Mr Mooreys death, Ralph ran
away citing ill treatment as a reason for doing this, after being apprehended and appearing in the Bacup Court he
said that Mrs Moorey ill treated him by making him wear thick iron clogs which hurt is feet dreadfully.
Following the Education Act of 1870 all children were supposed to receive compulsory education, by the 1890’s
the working week was typically 54 hours, with children restricted to being able to work only when they reached the
age of 10 and then only has half-timers the other half of the day being spent in school. The new Factory Act which
came into effect on 1st January 1893 stated that no child under the age of 11 should be allowed to commence
work as a half-timer in a factory or workshop this raised the age by one year from the previous ruling. In 1892 the
minimum age for working was raised from 10 to 11 years and in 1900 to 12 years.
The Bacup Times often carried stories of horrific accidents that had occured to child workers click HERE to access some of these. You can
also read the memories of one child worker HERE
Sadly accidents to children were commonplace, many of them ending
tragically to read some of these click
Many of the mills, coal mines, factories, in and around Bacup and Stacksteads employed
children, the pittance they earned ofen meant the difference between their families
starving.In 1840 the mills ran for 14- 16 hours a day six days a week and this applied to
children as well as adults. Itwas commonplace to bring in children from other parishes,
children who were orphaned living in workhouses were often brought to work in the mills as
the folliwng report from the Bacup Times of 1866 shows:
Such is the difficulty experienced in obtaining hands for the cotton
manufacturers that applications have been made by several firms to the board of
guardians for all the children they can send to be apprenticed to the trade. The
hours of labour, education and other advantages offered are more favourable
than usually fall to the lot of the parish apprentice.
Children were often apprenticed to other trades as well and not all
were treated well, in 1863 a young man named Ralph Jackson,
who had been a resident of the Blue Coat School in Oldham, had
been apprenticed to a Mr Moorey of Union Street, Tailors and drapers. Following Mr Mooreys death, Ralph ran
away citing ill treatment as a reason for doing this, after being apprehended and appearing in the Bacup Court he
said that Mrs Moorey ill treated him by making him wear thick iron clogs which hurt is feet dreadfully.
Following the Education Act of 1870 all children were supposed to receive compulsory education, by the 1890’s
the working week was typically 54 hours, with children restricted to being able to work only when they reached the
age of 10 and then only has half-timers the other half of the day being spent in school. The new Factory Act which
came into effect on 1st January 1893 stated that no child under the age of 11 should be allowed to commence
work as a half-timer in a factory or workshop this raised the age by one year from the previous ruling. In 1892 the
minimum age for working was raised from 10 to 11 years and in 1900 to 12 years.
The Bacup Times often carried stories of horrific accidents that had occured to child workers click HERE to access some of these. You can
also read the memories of one child worker HERE
