Module 2582: Document Studies
Factory
Reform
Need for Reform



Parliamentary enquiry
of 1832 revealed
terrible state of affairs
Men, women and
children working long
hours in poor conditions
Children were
particularly badly
treated
Land owners
feared loss of
power to
industrialists
Evangelists
Politics
Men like
Lord Ashley
Pressures for
Reform
Medical groups
Men like Dr James Kay
Legislation before 1833
1802 Robert Peel (senior) introduced Act for
Preservation of Health and Morals of
Apprentices
 Limited working day for children to 12 hours
 Children to receive religious instruction &
other education
 JPs given power to appoint inspectors
Legislation before 1833





1802 Act was largely ignored – no means of
enforcement
1815 Royal Commission reported on factory
conditions
Peel senior introduced 1819 Act
Act aimed at restricting hours worked by
young
Again no inspectorate
Factory Act, 1831






Introduced by Sir John Hobhouse
Extended work restrictions to 17 & 18 year
olds
Difficult to enforce
Failure spurred work of Michael Sadler
Headed select committee in 1832
Foundation of 10 Hour movement
Factory Act, 1833





Sadler lost his seat after 1832
Replaced by Lord Ashley
Whigs established Royal Commission –
supporters of reform feared it would be
biased
Hostile reception for Commissioners but
reported favourably
Chadwick argued 14 year olds capable of
working long days
Terms of the Act





Largely based on the findings of the Royal
Commission
Children 9-14 restricted to 8 hour day + 2
hours compulsory education
15-18 restricted to 12 hour day
4 Inspectors appointed
Act failed to introduce maximum 10 hour day
for children despite strong level of support
Why had developments been opposed?




Main opponents were mill owners concerned
about impact of any restrictions on output
Argued that reduction in working day would
hit wages of most needy
Whig newspapers like the Leeds Mercury &
Manchester Guardian opposed reform
Many Whigs were firm believers in laissezfaire
Factory legislation 1841-53





Peel succeeded to office against background
of economic slump & social disorder
1843 Graham proposed factory bill
Reduction for u-13s to 6½ hours per day
Also proposed 3 hours a day compulsory
education – this opposed by Dissenters
Following spring Ashley proposed 10 Hour
amendment- defeated
1844 Act





Laid down provisions for safety at work
Injured workers to receive compensation
Important as it marks beginning of govt
interference between bosses & workers
Act widened the scope of govt intervention to
adult male workers
10 Hour working day NOT implemented
Peel & Factory Reform




Main reason for defeat of the 10 Hour
amendment was opposition from Peel
Peel unwilling to alienate support from
industrialists
Corn Law debate sidelined issue of fixed
working day
Ashley replaced by John Fielden as leader
1847 Factory Act





On return to power Whigs passed the 10 hour Bill
After May 1st 1848 working week for women &
children under 18 limited to 58 hours
Many bosses ignored legislation or introduced shift
system to get round it
1850 Grey introduced bill banning relay system and
restricting work to 60 hours a week
1853 Factory Act – fixed hours for children
Why was development so slow?





Laissez-faire was major factor
Manufacturers resentful of government
interference
Practical problems of proving ages
Parents worked with bosses to break law
Not enough inspectors