ENG-DUR-SUNDERLAND-L Archives

From: "ROB SHEPHERD" <>
Subject: [ENG-DUR-SUNDERLAND] North Eastern Reformatory
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 10:21:02 +0100

Hello Mary

For more information about the NE Reformatory go to
http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk and enter Stannington and Netherton
in the search box. There are photographs of the Reformatory and Reformatory
Farm together with maps. The reformatory was situated to the North West of
Stannington close to the railway lines. Look on Google Earth and you can see
an aerial photograph of the area today; comparing this with maps of the
reformatory on the communities.northumberland.gov.uk site the only building
that perhaps is still remaining is the long horizontal building to the north
of the plot.

*Northumberland Reformatory School for Boys
*
Established for the Counties of Durham and Northumberland, is at
Stannington, near Morpeth. Boys are now received from other Counties. There
are now (1894) 220 Boys in the school, who farm 500 acres of land and
manufacture agricultural implements, and are taught other useful
trades.Robert Middlemiss, Superintendent Robert Robey, Secretary
*Source: Kelly's Directory 1894
*
This is some information I copied from
http://www.missing-ancestors.com/newcastle%20north-east%20reform%20morpeth%20info.htm
**<http://www.missing-ancestors.com/newcastle%20north-east%20reform%20morpeth%20info.htm>;
**
*NEWCASTLE (later) NORTH-EASTERN REFORMATORY SCHOOL FOR BOYS, NETHERTON, NR.
MORPETH, NORTHUMBERLAND.*

Founded in 1853? and certified 5th November 1854.Inaugurated by R.B.
Sanderson and Hans Hamilton. Certified at new site 5th June 1857 for 100
boys. Removed to Netherton in 1859 and certified in 1860. Re-certified
June 1891 for 210 boys and temporarily re-certified in July 1917 for 220
boys. Was again re-certified in 1924 for 150 boys. Became the *NETHERTON
TRAINING APPROVED SCHOOL* from 1933 and closed in the late
1970s.Thebuildings was also used as an equestrian centre and later, in
1982 an
assessment centre. Captain O'Brian was connected with the foundation of the
school. The Newcastle premises comprised of a block of poor cottages. The
new premises were large and well built divided into four wards.

*Brian Pears writing on Rootsweb stated:*

"I don't know anything about the place as a reformatory, but I can tell you
what subsequently happened to the place. Along with all reform schools, the
North Eastern Reformatory subsequently became (in the 1920s?) a "Home Office
Approved School" (a penal institution for children) called Netherton Park.
Following the passing of the "Children and Young Person's Act" of 1969,
custodial provision for children went out of fashion and on 1 Oct 1973
Netherton Park Approved School became Netherton Park Community Home With
Education run by Northumberland County Council. But in 1977 all but 15 acres
of Netherton Park was sold and the money was used to build a new
"Observation and Assessment Centre" with four 10-bed units for boys and
girls - an Approved School in all but name. And in 1988, following the
realisation
that they did actually need to imprison some youngsters, they built a
"Secure Unit" there too.And that's how it remains to this day under the name
of Netherton Park Assessment Centre - performing essentially the same
service as the North East Reformatory did 120 years ago (but I'm sure that
those running the place would have apoplexy if I said that to them)."

Hope this is helpful. Did you uncover any additional information about the
Reformatory that you could share?

Regards,

Rob

This thread:

• [ENG-DUR-SUNDERLAND] North Eastern Reformatory and Stanningtonburials. by "Mary" <>
  • Re: [ENG-DUR-SUNDERLAND] North Eastern Reformatory and Stanningtonburials. by

  • [ENG-DUR-SUNDERLAND] North Eastern Reformatory by "ROB SHEPHERD" <>