In a message dated 11/03/2004 21:04:40 GMT Standard Time, robert@hildrop.freeserve.co.uk writes: > As you can see from the various answers, there is still no definitive > answer. > Schools of Industry for girls, were Charity schools established by a person, or a group, for philanthropic reasons, initially to teach reading, writing and plain needlework in order to prepare girls for domestic service. They date at least from the end of the 18th. Century. These were completely different to the 'Industrial Schools' established by the 1857 Industrial School Act. Regards Stan Mapstone