In the 19th century, child labor was legal, and thousands of children were sequestered into mines and factories. The life of a child worker was grueling, and often short. Many were forced to begin working before they were 10 years old, as jobs like chimney sweeping required children who could fit into small places. While working conditions left much to be desired, at least the children were making money on the up and up; the same cannot be said for the gangs of child criminals who plagued England.