Victorian Street Sweepers

Season: 7 Episode: 20

Before modern roads and pavements, crossing a busy city street could be filthy, dangerous, and sometimes impossible without help. In the crowded towns and cities of the 19th century, horse-drawn traffic left roads thick with mud, waste, and grime, creating an opportunity for one of Victorian Britain’s most overlooked jobs, the crossing sweeper.

CAST

Richard Rowe - Steve Sheperd

Parson - Joe Wilson

Henry Mayhew - Guy Pass

Sam Scrape - Martin Palmer

THIS PODCAST

This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England.

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SOURCES

Mayhew, Henry (2009). "London Labour and the London Poor, Vol. II

The Dictionary of Victorian London.

London Labour and the London Poor, p. 259

Cheltenham Chronicle - Thursday 25 January 1844

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk

Back In The Day music by Freesoundmusic

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