This week we meet the water caddies who delivered water on their backs from wells to peoples' homes; firefighters who had only their own wetted beards to breathe through when they entered blazing buildings; the dockers and deal porters who, with no regard for health or safety issues, serviced the tall ships; brick makers; and crossing sweepers who shovelled the muck left by hundreds of horses and swept the streets keeping crossing places clean for the passing gentry.

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