On the streets of 19th-century London
HistoryExtra podcast
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Crossing Sweepers
Crossing sweeper charles macke am either began life as a slave, certainly his father was a slave in jamaica. He is known to have spent the vast majority of his incredibly long life sweeping a crossing on ludgate hill. And he ends up, apparently leaving all his earnings to the daughter of that family. Some people say it's seven thousand pounds. But you need t have those regulars who will actually be relied upon to tip you on a regular basis to sustain you. Those quickly stack up, because a shilling a day is decent going for anyone working on the street.
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