Valentine Gray, the Chimney Sweep
Miniature
World is situated in Gray's Walk in Newport on the Isle of Wight. The 'Walk'
is named after Valentine Gray a young victorian chimney sweep.
In
the early 1800's the usual way of sweeping any substantial chimney was to send
a little boy up it, brushing the soot as he climbed. One of these climbing boys
was Valentine Gray a nine year old pauper from Alverstoke who went to work for
a Newport (Isle of Wight) sweep, a Mr Davis. One day the boy was found dead
in his sleeping quarters, the outbuilding of a house in Pyle Street, Newport.
A surgeon who examined the body found that it was a mass of bruises, and that
the cause of death was a severe blow to the head. There was a prolonged inquest
and eventually Davis and his wife were imprisoned for manslaughter. The public
compassion for the boy's fate was reflected by the erection of the monument
that now stands in Litten Park, Newport (
The
Monument in Litton Park reads
Isle of Wight), and brought about the Childrens
Employment Act.
To
the memory of VALENTINE GRAY the little sweep. Interred January the 5th AD 1822
in the 10th year of his age. In testimony of the general feeling for suffering
innocence this monument is erected by public subscription.
