Using the evidence of these sources and your own knowledge explain why people had different attitudes to the employment of children at mills such as Styal.

        Source B is taken from evidence given in court by Joseph Sefton after he tried to escape from Styal in the 1906. It tells us that child labour was okay because the children were happy and well looked after, although the reliability of the source is questionable – Joseph had just tried to escape, and may be worried about being punished if he gave a negative view of Styal Mill. The source says however, that the rooms were clean, the beds good and the children well fed and happy.

        Source C is evidence given to a royal commission of factories by George and Elizabeth Shawcross in 1833. They were (then) in charge of the apprentice house at Styal. The source says that the children were well looked after, but then, it would, wouldn’t it? Mr and Mrs Shawcross are obviously biased in favour of child labour, so they would be unlikely to criticize the treatment of pauper apprentices. The source tells us that mill owners paid the doctor for all year round and that they never had deformed children.

        These three sources tell us that people supported child labour, which is not surprising, as all of the people concerned had a very good reason to give a positive view of child labour. Source A tells us of the Greg family’s views on child labour; obviously, considering it was they who were responsible for it, they supported child labour. Source C is taken from George and Elizabeth Shawcross, who worked for Samuel Greg, and would also want to support child labour, for the same reason. Source B is taken from Joseph Sefton. Although he must not have like working at Styal Mill, because he tried to escape, he gave a positive view of child labour. This was possibly because he was afraid to criticise, in case he received punishment upon his return to Styal.

        Sources F and G also show that people felt strongly about child labour, but they show that people disagreed with it. Source F tells us about Esther Price, a girl who ran away from Styal Mill. It says that she was locked up with her windows boarded up and no bed. She was only fed twice a day.

        Source G, finally, is a drawing of apprentices eating from a pig’s trough. It shows that the children were treated like animals and whether or not it is accurate it is reliable in answering the question because it shows that the artist obviously didn’t agree with child labour.

Sources