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