Percentage of children below 13 in cotton factories (1835–1878)

Regulation was ineffective until the mills were subject to inspection in 1833 with the establishment of a factory inspectorate consisting of four factory inspectors who had the power of magistrates.:41–42 [112] This did not reduce the number of children, half-timers worked mornings in the mill and spend the afternoon in the school room. While the number of children working in spinning as tenters did decline, more were employed in weaving because weavers were expected to tenter extra looms.

Reference 1: percentage.

Reference 2: 1835, 1838, 1847, 1850, 1856, 1862, 1867, 1870, 1874 and 1878.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_mill