Chimney sweepers used to be pretty common back then
One might know chimney sweepers from the classic film Mary Poppins. While we may think otherwise, this profession has not completely disappeared; it still exists in some parts of the world where coal fireplaces remain. However, when coal was the only alternative to heat a home, chimney sweepers were quite popular in most cities.
Sadly, the life of the average chimney sweeper was nothing like the joyful depiction of the character played by Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. For centuries, chimney sweeping was not a safe or profitable profession, even though it was always needed, especially in big cities after the Industrial Revolution.