Waterloo is most widely known as the location where Napoleon was defeated after his rise to power in the early 1800's. Appropriately, the battle that was fought here is called the "Battle of Waterloo" by historians and students alike. Before the Battle of Waterloo, the city was most widely known for being a safe haven for weary travelers to rest wthout fear of being robbed. It was a common stop along many a merchant's trade route for this reason.

As the Industrial Revolution engulfed much of the U.K. durin the 19th Century, coal mining was also at its peak in Wales. Around 1850, Wales was most famous for the rich coalminding industry in Rhondda Valley, located in southern Wales. A great portion of workers who were working in these coal mines were children as young as 10 years old. While the Industrial Revolution was in full swing, so was the increase of chid labor. Many employers found it easier and significantly cheaper to hire and have children participate in the work in these tight, crammped, close-knit spaces in the mines.