Brutal Lives of Victorian 'Shoe Shine' Boys (Battles on London's Streets)

Victorian boys would fight for control of London's street corners and pitches for cleaning shoes. Competition was fierce, and independent boys who hadn't paid, or couldn't afford the fee to join a brigade, faced persecution – not least, from the police. They were hounded away from the best and busiest street corners allocated for boys with licences. Find out, in this genuine account of 19th Century 'boot blacks,' how there was war for trade between independent boys who enjoyed the freedom of the streets and boys in brigades who enjoyed the paid protection of the police.

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Credits: Narration - markmanningmedia.com
CC BY - St Nicholas' and St Martin's Orthopaedic Hospital, Pyrford by Wellcome Collection; The wicked flee when no man pursueth. [front] Date issued 1870 - 1900 by Boston Public Library

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