British Chimney Sweeps: Five Centuries of Sweeping in Bloomington, MN

The art and science of chimney sweeping, from the development of chimneys in the twelfth century to the patenting of mechanical devices in the late nineteenth century. Included are the personalities who dominated the trade (which surprisingly included several women sweeps); illustrations of the tools of the trade; sweeping techniques; the impact of social reform; and the place of the sweep in literature.