The Quarry Bank Runaways

by G.J. Griffiths

In the early 19th century, when it was the policy of many of the poorhouses and workhouses to deter paupers from applying by making the conditions inside harsh and unpleasant, two boys set out on a journey to Hackney Workhouse in London. Their starting point was in the pleasant Cheshire countryside, where they were apprenticed to the cotton mill built by Samuel Greg in 1784. Children as young as 9 would be employed there, as scavengers, piecers, mule doffers or can tenters. These jobs could be just as unpleasant and difficult for a poor child as those we may have heard of, such as chimney sweeps and match girls.
Quarry Bank Mill was some 200 miles north of London and the boys had to sneak out unnoticed and then attempt to walk all the way. It was likely that these enterprising travellers took advantage of the drovers’ roads and the newly developed “motorways” of the times – the canals. Perhaps they were lucky enough some days to hitch a lift; their general direction of travel taking them to Beartown, the Potteries, Dunstable Downs and eventually to London. Whatever challenges they encountered along the way archive evidence shows that they made it.
Runaway apprentices had become a problem for society during the years of the Industrial Revolution – so what had prompted Thomas and Joseph to do such a hazardous thing? What happened to them on their long journey? Did they receive any help? Or were they chased relentlessly wherever they ran, since what they were doing was illegal in the eyes of the authorities?
This is the story of their adventure and it concludes with the events in the Middlesex courthouse, known then as the Old Sessions.

Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2019

About the author

G.J. Griffiths is a retired science teacher with some early working experience of the photographic industry. Born in the UK he enjoys reading most genres of fiction such as sci-fi, crime/detective thrillers, historical and wildlife stories. Non-fiction reading mainly includes scientific or historical books. Walking in the English, Scottish or Welsh countryside with binoculars ready for bird-watching or other wildlife is a particular pleasure.
His first novel was Fallen Hero and the So What! series of three books followed. All three are focussed on the fictitious Birch Green High School. More recent works include poetry: Dizzyrambic Imaginings, two illustrated children’s sci-fi stories about ant-size aliens and historical novels based upon real characters from the Industrial Revolution period: The Quarry Bank Tales., Mules; Masters & Mud, The Mule Spinners' Daughters.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[Hock Tjoa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a generous and open-hearted story of two young boys, one a boy soprano and the other a manly baritone, who escaped from a cotton mill and make their way to London.

Why "escape"? Ah, because of the socio-economic conditions at the beginning of nineteenth-century England, the poorhouses and workhouses were designed to discourage dependence on "welfare." Dr. Holland, a physician linked to Quarry Banks said, "tis well known that the children of the lower classes tend to bouts of lethargy and contrariness." The author hints also that perhaps they were designed to ensure a pool of labor for the owners, but his social criticism is very soft-spoken.

The boys encounter kindness on the way. "Not everyone ... would show them the same level of consideration and generosity as Parbold and the Bawtrys but spirits were high that day." They meet horses and young girls as well. But no story is developed, everything is devoted to getting the boys to London.

Why do they journey to London? "Tommy's lost a finger and wants to see his mother and with a bit of luck I'm going to see my ma as well." So, they miss their mothers. This might work (maybe) as the motivation the story needs but the details the author provides are desultory. The boys explain themselves to successive more or less helpful adults, but it does not get any clearer. There is no depth to their feeling lost, of the separation from family.

The story explores the exhausting business of "walking a barge" through a canal tunnel, but one does not understand why they did it - were they lured and tricked? Similarly, we learn of lock-gates along these canals, the "potbanks" that had begun to dot the countryside in the late eighteenth century, but it is not the author's purpose to convey a picture of the industrial revolution in England. Is it?

Those details are interesting to him, but perhaps readers are more demanding. How do these add up to assist the story? It is not clear to me, just as it is not clear why the author chooses to use dialect - Sarah Brightwell scolds her husband "you silly man, I towed you and towed you never to break down the clammins too soon... Now look where weem at ..." This is as effective as at another point we are told Bob the mule "He don't really need an 'alter tha knowst ... "

The author cares for his characters, but I am sorry to say the story does not show us why readers should.

[Frank Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the early days of the textile industry it was common for the children of paupers and orphans to be taken from the Poor House and indentured to mill owners. Such children would often be very young, the indenture would bind them to the mill owner for seven years. They would work long hours in a hazardous environment undertaking repetitive tasks. They were housed in an 'Apprentice House' which provided very basic accommodation.
G. J. Griffiths's book is based upon the true story of two such youths who ran away from the mill to which they were indentured in Cheshire, with the objective of reaching London, where they hoped to be reunited with their mothers. The author has imagined a number of adventures for them en route and, in the process, introduces us to the typical working lives of ordinary people. He has not over emphasised the hardships they might have encountered on such a journey, with the mill owner's steward on their tail. Instead he has presented encounters with people who are on the whole kind and helpful, facilitating their quest.
All of the characters are brought to life in an engaging way; the writer's style is easy to read and both entertaining and informative. Everything, in fact, that a historical novel ought to be. I have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone interested in the social history of England at the time of the Industrial Revolution.

[Robbie Cheadle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was introduced to the writing of G.J. Griffith through the second book in this series, Mules, Masters & Mud, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I found this first book to be equally entertaining and interesting and I found myself even fonder of the main characters, Joseph and Thomas, as teenagers in The Quarry Bank Runaways.

Joseph and Thomas are both indentured apprentices to Quarry Bank Mill in the early 19th century, having spent the later part of their short childhoods in a workhouse in London after their mothers fell on hard times. The boys vividly recall the journey from London to the mill near Manchester in the bank of an enclosed wagon with a lot of other children. The paupers were bumped around and arrived battered and bruised and, although their master, Mr Greg, is one of the better mill owners as far as treatment of his workers was concerned, life does not improve for the apprentices after their arrival.

Following an accident in which Thomas loses a finger, he is desperate to travel to London to visit his mother. Joseph decides to accompany him and take advantage and visit his own mother. The two boys make a plan and manage to escape the mill and set off on the long and arduous journey by foot to London. Their determination to visit their mothers during a time of physical challenge seemed very natural to me and the mill owner was unkind to disallow the journey. Mr Greg's refusal of Thomas' request to have leave of absence from the mill highlighted the fact that workers were treated as commodities at that time in history and had no rights whatsoever.

The story tells of the boys journey and the various people they meet along the way. Many are kindly and do their best to assist the runaways, but others attempt to exploit them for their own personal gain.

The detailed depictions of life during the early years of the industrial revolution and the awful work conditions and related health issues in various walks of life from mill workers to bargemen to potters to charcoal burners is well researched and fascinating. The reader is also given a brief glimpse into the lives of a retired night watchman, a magistrate and a scullery maid as well as the harsh laws impacting the lives of people forced to enter the workhouses.

The dialogue is written in various dialects which some readers may find a bit challenging, but I quickly got used to it and thought it added to the authentic feel of the time and the story. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy delving into history and how people lived in the past.

[J.P. Willson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting "story?" Yet it does leave me with the feeling- the thoughts of,"what did I just read?" It is presented as fiction yet it reads as a historical account of these two young men-boys in what from my understanding is the reality of the time-frame presented here. I'm at a loss.
It chronicles this journey from one town to the next, although it jumps through the different characters without much closure as to any of them, so I was confused. Keeping in mind that I was already confused from the dialect used throughout.
This was difficult to read, not only because of the dialects, but also from lack of editing? I do not know.
To give credit where credit is due this could of been because of the copy I received for perusal may have been pre-edit, of this I am unsure.
As already stated this is a "story" about life in a past era, that unfortunately is similar to today's working conditions if we think hard enough about it. The differences being that the problems and the issues of today are simply more complex than at this time because the world now is such.
Reality is still- the rich get richer and the poor stay poor and taken advantage of at every turn simply just trying to survive.
So the question begs- "Have we really come that far as a civilization?"

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Quarry Bank Runaways by G.J. Griffiths was an intriguing look at the other side of 1800s England. Stories of the landed rich and the royals abound, so it was refreshing to get a rare glimpse at the lives of those who have lingered in the background.

Being sent to the poorhouse was not uncommon in the early days of the 19th century. A widow with small children could expect to become indetured to the workhouse where she lived, and any children under the age of nine years old would be taken from her and raised with others of a like age. Upon reaching the age of nine, these childred would be shipped out as apprentices to mills and factories and forced to work in horrid conditions. While it was possible for these children to learn a trade and rise in the ranks in some of the places, the very nature of the work led most into ill health and short lives.

Jospeh Sefton and Thomas Priestly were two such children. Apprentices in the Quarry Bank Mills, they labored to produce cotton products, breathing in raw cotton fibers hourly and in constant danger of injury. Lack of adequate nourishment and rest added to the risk.

After Thomas was injured, he and Joseph embarked on a dangerous mission: to be reunited with their mothers, however briefly. Having been refused permission for time off, they ran away from the mill and began a journey that would prove to be frightening and enlightening.

The boys expected to be accosted at any given moment by those who would betray them for profit. What was less expected, surely, was to encounter folk who would do whatever they could to give comfort and aid.

This book is filled with colorful dialect, ever changing as the boys make their way from the mill back to London. Descriptive and well researched, it paints a picture of lives lived behind the scenes we've come to expect in a story of historical England: the poor, the downtrodden, the desperate and most of all the compassionate and caring among these forgotten people whose hard work and suffering made it possible for the affluent members of society to rise up and prosper.

That two teens with nothing to their names were able to complete such a daunting journey is nothing short of miraculous. G.J. Griffiths was able to envision the many adventures they may have had while evading capture along the way.

An enjoyable read. I would recommend this to anyone who cares to learn about the dispicable practice of child labor.

[Richard Gradner · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love historical fiction, then this story, as it did for me, will send shivers up and down your spine as you lose yourself to a time in England’s early 19th century. Griffiths writes well, describing a vivid world in such detail that it is only a pleasure to absorb the energy of a time and place a long time past. The story follows young Thomas Priestly and Joseph Sefton as they travel across the countryside to find their mothers in London. They meet many interesting people en-route, whose characters are described most beautifully. One of the most interesting aspects of the book was how Griffiths adapted the dialect of the time to the story. Highly enjoyable and entertaining read!

[Pamela Canepa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine this: you're not even ten, and you haven't seen your mother in a year. You work 12 hour days as an apprentice because they're too poor to feed you at home. This was the reality for many children in parts of early 19th century England. This historical fiction novel imagines the adventures and trials of two boys, Joseph and Thomas, who have been living in such a situation.

I found many parts of this novel to be interesting and horrifying, while other parts of the book lost me, due to the dialect depicted. It was almost like trying to interpret another language at one point. The dialect could have been used in a more subtle manner, I think, just to improve overall readability. Otherwise, I found myself feeling empathy for these characters and was amazed at how things like this really did occur at that time in History. The factual tidbits in the Epologue were a helpful addition as well. All in all, I think this is a revealing work of historical fiction that would be enjoyable to readers of this genre.

[Laura Libricz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to The Quarry Bank Runaways via the second book in this series, Mules; Masters and Mud. I love realistic historical fiction and I find this first book an enjoyable, informative read. To put it in modern terms: this is a coming-of-age, road-trip story about Thomas and Joseph who have run away from the cotton mill and are making their way to London to visit their mothers. Given the conditions in the cotton mills and the way the apprentices were treated, that was motivation enough to run away! Even if the reader isn't English, the dialect is easy enough to get through and adds loads of flavor to the story. Just for fun, read it out loud! All in all, a highly recommended series.

[E.M. Swift-Hook · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Historical Odyessy

'In 1664 and 1667 Samuel Pepys visited Chipping Barnet and on each occasion he drank some of the water from the Old Physic Well.'

Thomas Priestley and Joseph Sefton were teenagers who had been indentured as child apprentices at Quarry Bank cotton mill in Styal, Cheshire. This horrific practice effectively enslaved the children of the poor for the period of their 'apprenticeship' which was nothing more than hard labour. Some, like the heroes of this book, were lucky and received some care and education alongside their daily grind. The book was inspired by a real court record of how the two boys left the Cheshire mill and went to London to find their mothers in 1806.

This book comes over as a genuine labour of love - a sort of literary 'docudrama'. The author clearly has a passion for telling the history of the period. The boys and the people they encounter are very vivid characters. The research is excellent and the writing is generally good, but the effect of inserting passages about events unrelated to the story but of historical interest, ruins the flow and breaks the reader's immersion. It is as if the author really wanted to write a non-fiction book in places, or just could not resist shoe-horning little nuggets of historical fact into the narrative, like the example in the quote above. I found it very irritating, but another reader might not.

To my mind, this would have been a much stronger book - and made its point more powerfully - if the historical anecdotes were banished to an appendix - or maybe put in text boxes isolated visually from the main narrative -and the children's story allowed to stand on its own. The author has a great story to tell but buries it under a sense of 'preaching' about the evils of the past and those heavy-chunks of historical fact dropped in on the reader from a great height.

All that said, if you are after an introduction to what life was like in early 19th Century England for those born into poverty, this little book would be a very good place to start.

[M. Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What would the next few days bring? It was a question they kept asking each other…”

For me, The Quarry Bank Runaways: The Journey to London of Thomas Priestly and Joseph Sefton in 1806, is initially reminiscent of Mark Twain’s, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Even later on in the story it’s still reminiscent of Twain, in that on the surface it’s about two runaways evading ‘bad people’ who could and would swindle them—or worse, send them back to the Mill—while also meeting ‘good people’ who help them in times of need as well as showing them that not all people are bad and some families are ‘normal’ even though they, too, are poor. But there’s also the undercurrent of a much bigger picture going on: The egregious practice of the indentured servitude of children—otherwise known as slavery. Griffiths didn’t sugarcoat it and I applaud him for that.

Traveling back in time to visit a corner of this world so vibrantly described was an absolute pleasure to experience. The descriptions of everything: the land, history, people, socioeconomic backgrounds and lifestyles, even the food, were a delightful decadence. I was mesmerized by the rich and colorful dialect woven into the characters’ dialogue. Some of it reminded me of the Gullah language. Example: “Ah” for “I”. I also took note of, and enjoyed, the subtle changes in regional dialects of the various characters.

The historical aspects, which I suspect were heavily researched by Griffiths—and probably born from impassioned heartstrings—added credibility to the story, capturing the accuracy of our shameful, not-so-ancient past while also maintaining the stunning and quintessential essence of young Joe’s and Tommy’s journey.

I reached a point where I clung to Joe’s and Tom’s adventurous voyage across the countryside and rolling hills to reunite with their mothers—a delicate reality I can relate to, though my own mother is much farther away from me than London. I rooted for them to make it, became a tagalong in their legging journey.

But let us not forget one moral interpretation of, The Quarry Bank Runaways; a story of the born elite vs. the born downtrodden. And though many conditions and circumstances have changed, certainly improved… how far have we really come in bettering the lives of those born silver-spoonless?

This novel glimpses into a past that for all practical purposes can best be defined as human agony designed by ‘the haves’ (those with wealth and status) who then wield it upon the ‘have-nots’ (the vast majority of human civilization). Why was there a differentiating spoon? Why is there still one today? Why is it still our division? Though we’ve come a long way from the widespread practice of indentured servitude of children and the poor, it does still occur, proving we still have far to go—still on our journey—before human civilization can call itself civil and truly altruistic.

[D.C. Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

G J Griffiths is a master at seeing through a child’s eyes. In The Quarry Bank Runaways, this is no small feat. Taking place in the early 1800’s, where some might call it a “simpler” time, life is and has never been simple, and children remain as precious and in need of love and care as any other time in history. Naïve and ignorant is also a constant in life. Power and greed. Classes of people who decide what is right and what is wrong. Most people try to do what is best, have good intentions and are generally good people, but it is defined by and a reflection of the times. The reason history is so important to archive and to teach our children, and our children’s children.

Somehow Griffiths is able to cover so much of this and more by pointing a bright spotlight on and following the journey and adventures of two young boys who run away from a cotton mill only to see their mothers, as a child is wont to do when lonely, scared, or hurt.

Griffiths’ writing sometimes dances off of your tongue. The dialect used not only captures the times, but is used so well in defining the characters, what they believe and their station in life.

The book is short, and leaves you wanting to know more (but I won’t spoil it!)

The history lesson weaved throughout, as well as the historical pictures and Epilogue of facts in The Quarry Bank Runaways makes this book the more precious. Children and adults will enjoy this tale, and learn a lot without the slightest prod to do so :) . A small gem.

[Maggie Hasbrouck · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Quarry Bank Runaways by GJ Griffiths does a great job of illustrating the details and realities of everyday life in early 1800s England, something often lacking in history texts. What it doesn’t do, is shine a new light on the working conditions of the poor. Those facts are well known, and there are no big surprises here.

Using the story of two young boys who’d run away from the mill where they had been forced to apprentice, the author is able to give the reader a wide-ranging look at the facts and particulars of life at the turn of the century. On the boy’s journey we encounter many different characters and learn about their various trades. The author used the language and dialect of the time, which was very interesting. It also made for difficult reading at times. At the end of the book, there is an extensive glossary, which in itself, is interesting.

The Quarry Bank Runaways feels more like a history book than a novel, which for me was somewhat disappointing. For the first three quarters of the book, we would meet a new character, learn a little about their life and then move on to the next chapter, never to see them again. It wasn’t until the end that we stuck with one cast of characters. Because of this, it felt to me that the story of the boy’s journey took second seat to the job of illuminating history.

All in all, it was a well-written and thorough book.

[Edward Rickford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Quarry Bank Runaways is a well-researched novel written in very thick vernacular. Up is often spelled Oop and includes sentences like “Dunner thee fret thysell.” Once you read far enough into the book, the language choices become easier to understand and readers who enjoy 19th century literature will find much to enjoy in Griffith’s prose. I wouldn’t consider myself one of those readers per se, but I can definitely respect the research and effort that went into the book. Having said that, the story didn’t really click with me. The plot was easy enough to understand, but the characters failed to hook my interest. In all fairness, Griffith did give us good reason to root for the boys. Their apprenticeship was both hazardous and grueling, and they could never receive gainful employment at the mill. But there are plenty of novels with mistreated youths and the characters in this story didn’t stand out to me. In certain respects, they were too familiar, and I think the story would have been stronger had the characters been a bit more fleshed out. Griffith is a good author, I read his novel The Mule Spinners’ Daughter only a few months ago and enjoyed that one immensely, but Quarry Bank Runaways was not my cup of tea.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read. I found myself not able to put the book down. It is an interesting and fascinating look into the life and times of early London, with child slave labor and the ill treatment of the poor class. You feel like you are on the journey with the two main characters, looking over your shoulder at every moment, hoping and praying they do not get caught.
I would HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone, history buff or not.
This is probably G.J. Griffiths finest book yet.

A sidenote: The dialogue is written with varying dialects which would've been seen during the early times of London, with different slang terms here and there. Fortunately, the author provides a glossary for those who need some of the dialogue deciphered, which is truly helpful.

[Retroredux · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tale of the pauper apprentices

While I am a fan of historical fiction, I was incredulous that a story about two runaway child mill workers could be enjoyable. Mr Griffiths was able to do so by injecting this tale with much needed kindness and humanity along with the harsh truths of the period. The reader will feel greatly for the young boys as they make their way 200 miles on foot. The story is a fictitious, adventurous "what if" in relation to the very real history of the two runaways.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this intriguing and thought-provoking story of two young men and their journey. To see and understand history through the eyes of those who were most disadvantaged in society helps bring to light the true experiences of mill workers and paupers, and what they must have endured just to enjoy the comforts we do today. The nature of humanity both cruel and kind is conveyed through the variety of characters, as each leaves a lasting impression on the story and on the reader themselves. Stories like these provide valuable insight into history aside from just the facts and figures, and G.J. Griffiths did a fantastic job in writing such a tale.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to read of the treatment of indentured children in England. For me hard to get through perhaps because I am not from England. The slang was hard for me to read. I did read through the glossary once I finished the book and it gave meaning to some of the words I did not understand. The boys had quite an adventure once they ran away from the cotton mill.

[Jack Fernard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Quarry Bank Runaways is set in the not so far past. The characters are well made and their plight relatable. The author does an excellent job of painting the desperation of yesterday and holding the reader in this mental picture for virtually every page. At times, I found myself not wanting to go on, simply because I knew this suffering really happened. Life isn’t always fair and you really feel for the countless souls that have come before us.
The story is rich in detail and I learned quite a bit from the reading, but I did struggle with a few transitions. All in all, this was an excellent story. I would easily recommend this to any teen, simply to broaden their perspective.

[Leo McBride · Rating 3 out of 5]

The year is 1806 - and two young boys are on the run.
G J Griffiths' The Quarry Bank Runaways is an intriguing book on many levels. It follows two boys, Thomas Priestley and Joseph Sefton, and retraces their flight from Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire all the way to London in 1806.
It's a fictionalised version of a true story - and that long, arduous journey is brought to life well be Griffiths, full of encounters that might well have played out in real life, from a bear baiter to the future founder of the police, John Peel.
In truth, a couple of these encounters prove slightly distracting to the reader, as Griffiths takes a leap forward in time to tell us what future events would affect these other individuals, when as a story we might be better staying off in the present moment of the youngsters' travels and misadventures.
In that way, the book almost is better not as a standalone, but as a companion piece for anyone studying life in Britain in those early Napoleonic-era times - when work meant signing your life away to masters, or risking being packed off to the military or prison.
To read as a story alone, it is a little hard to completely immerse yourself in the boys' tale, but as an insight into the world they lived in, it's a great addition to your study list and worthy of an extra star to my overall score.

[Brian Michaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dickens-esque

I took a break from reading David Copperfield to delve into The Quarry Bank Runaways. What I discovered was an author with a flair to not only write a historical fiction but also to write historically. Some authors write historical fiction by basically writing a modern novel with a historical background (like a cheaply painted backdrop at a play), but The Quarry Bank Runaways reads like a book from the 1800s. The writing style, descriptions of events, and use of language put the reader firmly in the time period.

I loved the various accents that the characters had as Joseph and Thomas traveled from the north of England (near Manchester) to London. The descriptions of people and places were not overly wordy, yet I was able to picture myself right there alongside the boys as they met both friendly and hostile people and environments along the way. Griffiths uses some of the same devices as Dickens in weaving his tale, such as delving into the backgrounds of minor characters, but Griffiths delivers them in such a way as to instantly give the reader a feel for the characters. What I liked about this was that Joseph and Thomas didn’t just meet a bunch of cardboard characters along the road; you instantly feared, despised, or empathized with them.

This book was not only entertaining but also an education. I was acquainted with the conditions of the workhouses of 19th century England; however, I was not aware of the situations in which children could be sent away and indentured to a mill owner against their or their parents will. My heart went out to the Joseph and Thomas as they walked almost 200 miles just to see their mothers.

I highly recommend this book to those who love historical fiction, fans of 19th century literature, and history buffs of all kinds.

[J.B. Trepagnier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read about the horrible treatment of children in servitude during the Industrial Revolution. The author states it was based on real events and hints that things eventually did change for these children. I thought this story was going to be the catalyst for the change. In some ways, it was, in some ways, it wasn't. It builds to something, but doesn't quite get there. I'm not sure if it would have maybe gotten there for me if the author would have changed history and the ending for these two boys.

The story was interesting and the only reason I'm marking it 3 stars instead of 4 is because the dialogue was hard to read. There's slang in there, which is fine and I think I would have understood better if it wasn't also spelled out the way it would have been pronounced. Things like "muvver" instead of "mother". I found it made the slang more difficult to process because I'm also trying to read out misspelled words in my head. Almost all of the dialogue is written this way with at least one misspelled word that was intentional because it was supposed to read like it's pronounced. This may work for other readers, but for me, it made the book more difficult to get through

[William Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

The Quarry Bank Runaways is an historical account of life in 19th century England, primarily concerning the lives of two youths, Thomas and Joseph, working at a cotton mill, until they decide to escape.

Whilst an intriguing look at 19th century life for the poor, and seemingly a very accurate depiction, the novel was also meandering and, in my opinion, unfocused in many places. Getting glimpses of so many other characters lives in this era was fascinating but as they only lasted a chapter it felt like reading a series of connect short stories rather than a cohesive novel.

However, due to the awfulness of slave labour in these times, it was easy to root for Thomas and Joseph and hope they make it out okay in the end when their story arc was eventually focused on.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very easy read and extremely interesting. The book shows a high level of research into the impact the industrial revolution had on the lives of ordinary people at the time without being boring and tedious. For me it was made more interesting because the author used real people, children who actually did work in Quarry Bank Mill, and wove the meagre facts known about their lives with realistic fiction to give us a glimpse into how hard life must have been for the population during a time when wealth was shared by the privileged few.

This book will appeal to readers of all ages who have a love of history and/or adventure

[Tony Cunliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found The Quarry Bank Runaways a fascinating read as I have a particular interest in the subject being a National Trust volunteer at Quarry Bank. It took me a few chapters to get used to the author’s use of old/colloquial English in the conversations between the characters. The book has obviously been well researched and gives a good insight into life & times in the early 19th century. It was also a good geography lesson! I was struck by the many kind people the boys encountered on their journey . A real heart warming story, well worth a read.