Click on an image below to see a larger version. Right click on an image and choose “Save image as…” to use it in your digital interactive.
Workers at Osram Glass Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
This period picture shows workers clearing the broken glass and debris from machines at the plant while the apprentices look on. Note how young the apprentices seem to be.
Photograph taken Circa 1950 © Reproduced by permission of Historic England Archive ref: BB92/30478
Odeon Cinema, Hounslow, Greater London
A group of staff pose for the camera at the Odeon in London Road, Isleworth. The boy in the middle looks quite young and could have left school at 14. The cinema was built by George Coles and opened in 1935.
Photograph taken 1935 - 1939 © Historic England Archive ref: BB87/02711
Servant girl, Grandborough, Warwickshire
A young servant girl has been sent to fetch water from the village pump. Two other girls are on the same errand. Before houses had running water, fetching water from the pump was a heavy, daily chore.
Photograph taken 1901 © Reproduced by permission of Historic England Archive ref: aa97/05230
The Blowing Stone, Kingston Lisle, Oxfordshire
The Blowing Stone is a naturally perforated stone in which emits a sound when blown into. A small boy is sitting on a bench by the stone. His job was to unlock a padlock on the stone to allow tourists to blow in to it - for a price.
Photograph taken 1860 - 1922 © Reproduced by permission of Historic England Archive ref: CC97/02295
The Field Offices, Breams Buildings, City of London
Children packing tea at Butlers Wharf, London
Frank Cooper's Works, Victoria Buildings, Park End Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire
Interior showing women and girls at work. The majority are seated at tables preparing fruit. Others are standing at a wooden shelf to one side sieving fruit. In the foreground are tubs of apples awaiting preparation.
Photograph taken 1910 © Reproduced by permission of Historic England Archive ref: CC72/02319
Gardener, Hellidon Grange, Northamptonshire
There are two notable aspects of this gardener from 1903. Firstly, he is very smartly dressed. Servants were often expected to be both out of sight and smartly attired. Secondly, he is very young. People may take a job in service and expect to have some position in the household for life.
Photograph taken 1903 © Reproduced by permission of Historic England Archive ref: BB98/06048
Golding and Adams, High Street, Byfield, Northamptonshire
Staff and customers pose outside Golding & Adams grocery shop. The shop boys are wearing long white aprons. Behind them, the windows are piled high with goods for sale.
Photograph taken 1900-1910 © Reproduced by permission of Historic England Archive ref: aa97/05232
Hartley Memorial, Earsdon, Tyne and Wear
A third of the names on this memorial are boys aged 16 or younger. On 16 January 1862 the beam of the pumping engine at a colliery broke in two and left 204 man and boys trapped behind the debris that fell into the pit. No survivors were found. From the names and ages on the monument it is possible to see how some families lost several generations in the disaster.
Photograph taken January 1993 © Crown copyright.NMR ref: AA93/01330
Harvesting at Haddenham, Buckinghamshire
A view of a horse pulled machine cutting corn. The farm hands in the image all look very young. Everyone had to help at harvest time and some rural schools closed to allow pupils to help in the fields.
Photograph taken August 1903 © Reproduced by permission of Historic England Archive ref: bb97/08222
Haystore, Byfield, Northamptonshire
Children helping to build a hay store.
Photograph taken 1904 © Reproduced by permission of Historic England Archive ref: bb97/08360
Headington Domestic Training School, Headington, Oxford, Oxfordshire
A group of young girls training to be domestic servants at the school of Mrs G. Morrell, a member of the famous Oxford brewing family. The school, based at Headington Hill Hall, the family home, produced girls to serve in the best houses in the city.
Photograph taken 1913 © Reproduced by permission of Oxfordshire County Council ref: HT13925
Huskar Pit Disaster Memorial, Silkstone, South Yorkshire
On 4 July 1838 26 children were drowned when the Huskar Pit flooded. The report on the accident highlighted the conditions in which children worked in mines, and the public outcry that followed caused parliament to prohibit boys under 10, and all girls, from working underground.
Photograph taken November 1993 © Crown copyright.NMR ref: aa93/01061
J Plater's Cart, Van and Carriage Works, Haddenham, Buckinghamshire
The workers at this carriage works are assembled to have their photograph taken in 1903. Each holds the tools they use in their job. At this time craftsmen passed on their skills to boys who were apprenticed to them. The boys had to spend many years learning a trade.
Photograph taken 1903 © Reproduced by permission of Historic England Archive ref: bb97/08211
John H Chandler Family Butcher, Southam Street, Kineton, Warwickshire
A view of the yard outside the butchers shop with hanging carrasses behind the group of people posing for the camera. In the foreground is cart used to transport goods and a young delivery boy with his bicycle.
Photograph taken Apr 1905 © Reproduced by permission of Historic England Archive ref: BB98/01775