Chim Chiminee, chim chiminee

Today was Bath day!!!

A hospital trip to the fascinating and beautiful Georgian city!

A Glorious day weatherwise....just a treacherously low hanging sun, making driving somewhat hazardous.

You'll have to agree with me, there's something really powerful about the image of these chimney pots against the skyline, which in Victorian England would probably have been a great deal more blackened and sooty!!

Each one will have been an outlet from a fireplace in one of the many rooms in these 'Upstairs Downstairs'' town houses. All Downton Abbey fans will appreciate the importance of the fireplace!

Back in the 19th Century, the sweeping of these chimneys would have been done by small children aged six or seven, maybe even younger. They would scale the rooftops and because of their size, be able to physically descend into the small clay funnel shapes.....down into the dark narrow recesses of brickwork that was probably still scalding hot from the dying embers of the previous night's fire. Many a burn and scrape they would have experienced before re-emerging from those narrow confines

Dickens graphically captured the days before the repeal of child labour laws in his several novels, when dirt, grime, rags and harsh punishment were the norm.

Mary Poppins made it sound oh so different for the child of the 21st Century!

Thank God for the strength of people like Richard Oastler and Lord Shaftesbury who petitioned tirelessly for the laws to be changed.

So close to Christmas....the chimney has another important role to play!

Is that the clatter of Rudolph's hooves, has Santa at last arrived?

Two children
Two centuries apart
Two very different perspectives on chimneys and Christmas.

Happy Blipping Everyone