Hannah Brown

Hannah Brown was born in Bradford in 1809. Hannah was interviewed by Michael Sadler and House of Commons Committee on 13th June, 1832.

Cotton Mill worker photographed by Lewis Hine
Cotton Mill worker photographed by Lewis Hine

Primary Sources

(1) Hannah Brown was interviewed by Michael Sadler and his House of Commons Committee on 13th June, 1832.

Question: How early did you begin to work in mills?

Answer: At nine years old.

Question: What hours did you work?

Answer: I began at six o'clock, and worked till nine at night.

Question: What time was allowed for your meals?

Answer: No, none at all.

Question: Did this work affect your limbs?

Answer: Yes, I felt a great deal of pain in my legs.

Question: Did it begin to produce deformity in any of your limbs?

Answer: Yes; both my knees are rather turned in.

Question: Was there punishment?

Answer: Yes

Question: Has Mr. Ackroyd ever chastised you in any way?

Answer: Yes; he has taken hold of my hair and my ear, and pulled me, and just given me a bit of a shock, more than once.

Question: Did you ever see him adopt similar treatment towards any others?

Answer Yes: I have seen him pull a relation of mine about by the hair.

Question: Do you mean he dragged her?

Answer: Yes, about three or four yards.