Pictured
What the dickens?

Child labour, poverty and begging: Incredible snaps shed light on grim conditions of working class Victorian Britain

Many believe the photographer was a pioneer of photojournalism

AN incredible collection of sepia photos encapsulate what working life was like for people in Victorian Britain.

The poignant pictures, taken by photographer John Thompson, are like a portal back to Dickensian London.

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In an image titled The Temperance Sweep, a man stands covered in soot alongside a young boyCredit: John Thompson / Bishopsgate Institute

During the 1800s, advancements in technology allowed photos of everyday life to be printed for the first time.

In 1872, John Thompson and writer Adolphe Smith produced some of the first examples of photojournalism in Britain.

This photo, titled The Water Cart, shows a man making his living by carting around materials for his employersCredit: John Thompson / Bishopsgate Institute
The Crawlers image tells the story of a woman who was forced to beg on the street after her wealthy husband spent all his money before dying, leaving her destituteCredit: John Thompson / Bishopsgate Institute
The Independent Shoe Black shows how child labour was rife in Victorian Britain. A young boy can be seen polishing the shoes of a middle class manCredit: John Thompson / Bishopsgate Institute
Survivors of Street Floods in Lambeth shows the tragic time a family were turned out of their homes after they were damaged by floodwaterCredit: John Thompson / Bishopsgate Institute
The Seller of Shell Fish shows punters and market stall workers during a day's workCredit: John Thompson / Bishopsgate Institute

The pair set off to snap photos of people from all places in society, from beggars to doctors.

They aimed to feature those who were “hardworking, honest individuals, prevented by their station in life from further advancement”.

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During a time where mechanisation was booming, the images of London workers showed that not everyone was benefiting from industrialisation.

The emotive photos tell stories of the flower sellers on the street and the chimney sweeps that have been left soot-covered after a hard day’s graft.

London Nomades depicts a family of travellers who went from door to door attempting to earn a livingCredit: John Thompson / Bishopsgate Institute
The 'Caney' The Clown image told readers of the plight of a man who was forced to give up his job after his varicose vein burstCredit: John Thompson / Bishopsgate Institute
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The London Boardmen depicts a man who works as a Victorian walking advertisementCredit: John Thompson / Bishopsgate Institute
Street Life in London is a photo of two Victorian bin men tasked with the gruesome task of collecting rubbishCredit: John Thompson / Bishopsgate Institute

As well as capturing history with these bold images, the forward-thinking duo also interviewed their subjects about their experiences.

Their research was broadcast in monthly magazine Street Life in London from 1876 to 1877, and was also published in a book from 1978.

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The reason for circulating the book was said to be “to bring before the public some account of the present condition of the London street folk, and to supply a series of faithful pictures of the people themselves.”

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Many praise the photographer for drawing light to some of the crippling conditions of the 1800s.

It’s believed that his candid images pushed middle class Victorians to do more to help those who were living a life of poverty.

For the first time, many readers were able to put a face to the characters they were reading about in the novels of Charles Dickens.

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