Which 1847 British law limited many textile workers to a 10-hour working day?

The Ten Hours Act of 1847 limited many textile workers in Britain to a 10-hour working day.

The act applied to women and young persons working in textile factories. It followed decades of campaigning by factory-reform advocates, including Lord Ashley, later the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury. The legislation was part of Britain’s developing factory-law system during industrialization.

The act did not create a universal 10-hour day for every British worker. Its principal protections covered specified categories of workers and textile factories, which is why it is sometimes confused with broader Factory Acts. Earlier legislation had restricted child labor and introduced factory inspection, while later laws expanded workplace regulation.

The measure became effective in 1847 and represented an important step toward statutory limits on working time. It also helped establish the principle that Parliament could regulate industrial employment conditions.