THE LIVES AND LABOUR OF THE LONDON POOR : 1850s TO 1870s
MUDLARKS On the very bottom rung of the hierarchy of poverty were the “ Mudlarks ”: a gruesomely inappropriate nickname, for their work was far from being a lark. Its working conditions were so unspeakably foul, and its rewards so meagre that it was pursued exclusively by old people and young children of both sexes; some as young as five or six years of age. In other words, those who through the extremes of age, and/or infirmity, were incapable of pursuing any strenuous physical work; especially... Sign in to see full entry.