The Life of Victorian Shoe Blacks: Challenges and Perseverance

💼Cleaning and polishing shoes on the streets was considered a job for the poor in the Victorian era.

👞Branded shoe polish allowed any boy to become a boot or shoe black, leading to fierce competition for customers.

📜Photographer and journalist John Thompson and Adolf Smith documented the lives and conversations of shoe blacks in 19th century London.

🤝Boot black brigades, established by the Ragged School Society, provided employment and education to disadvantaged boys.

🚦The police restricted the freedom of trade for independent boot blacks, favoring the licensed brigade boys.

Why was cleaning and polishing shoes considered a low-status job?

—Cleaning and polishing shoes was associated with poverty and was looked down upon by those who were more fortunate.

What was the role of boot black brigades?

—Boot black brigades provided employment and education to boys who would otherwise be destitute on the streets.

How did the police restrict the trade of independent boot blacks?

—The police enforced restrictions on where independent boot blacks could stand and work, favoring the licensed brigade boys.

What were the challenges faced by boot blacks in Victorian London?

—Boot blacks faced fierce competition for customers, persecution from the police, and the constant threat of losing their livelihoods.

Did the boot black brigades have a positive impact?

—The boot black brigades provided employment opportunities and education for disadvantaged boys, offering them a chance for a better future.

00:00Cleaning and polishing shoes on the streets was considered a job for the poor in the Victorian era.

02:35Photographer and journalist John Thompson and Adolf Smith documented the lives and conversations of shoe blacks in 19th century London.

05:49The police restricted the freedom of trade for independent boot blacks, favoring the licensed brigade boys.

09:40Boot black brigades provided employment and education to boys who would otherwise be destitute on the streets.

11:29The competition between independent boot blacks and brigade boys led to tension and disagreements.