In a message dated 10/03/2004 17:40:02 GMT Standard Time, robert@hildrop.freeserve.co.uk writes: > what the 'school' really was. Was it a "naughty girls school" > Some Industrial Schools were day schools and others residential. They were associated with Reformatories, see http://www.institutions.org.uk/reformatories/ref/reformatories4.htm The Industrial School Act dates back to 1857 with amendments 1866 emanating from the youthful offender's act of 1854. Boys were sent to residential Industrial Schools from the age of nine to sixteen years, where they were educated and taught subjects such as tailoring, shoemaking, turning, etc. At the age of sixteen they were discharged, and employment found for them. Girls were sent to them from the age of nine to twelve years, and were detained until they were sixteen, and were presumably taught dressmaking, cookery, etc. Day Industrial Schools were also for the children of parents who either could not or would not keep them at school. The children, by order of a magistrate, were compelled to attend from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., during which time they were taught elementary school work. Three meals a day were provided for them, and time not taken up with lessons was occupied with light employment. Regards Stan Mapstone

My grandmother obtained a position in a Girls Industrial School after she was widowed. She lived in as did the girls and she was the Sewing Matron. From what I can gather these schools were the "answer" to orphaned girls and those who had a minor brush with the law, the idea being to give them the skills to obtain work, so sewing/cooking/domestic management skills were taught as well as a basic level of literacy. When leaving the schools places of employment were found for the girls where possible, some of these involved emigrating to provide domestic help for farms etc in Canada/America. regards, Dorothy Dorothy Holden Dover Kent England Uk Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness Volunteer http://www.raogk.org/england.htm