RootsChat.Com
Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => East Lothian (Haddingtonshire) => Topic started by: Wee lassie on Wednesday 21 September 11 08:55 BST (UK)
-
I wonder if anyone has any information on St Josephs School Tranent between the years of 1928 and 1934. I know that it was an industrial school but was handed over to the Catholic church in 1884. I also believe it was a school for juvenile offenders at some stage. I am not sure what it was at the time my relation was there. His parents were poor and I think they were living in Edinburgh at the time so I was wondering why he attended this school.
Cheers
-
Hi
I don't know what the school was before 1965 because thats the year i was sent there by the court .at that time it was called The Joe's and was run by a group of sadistic and brutal people known as the de la salle brothers,there were also cicilian staff there who on the whole were quite decent, Spent two and a half years there and wont forget them.
Eddie
-
Thanks Eddie.
I have been doing a bit of research online and have found out a little about the school. My ancestor was illegitimate and his mother died when he was small. His stepfather and his new wife brought him to Edinburgh. They were very poor and had another 4 children to feed. I think he would have qualified to get into the school as an orphan. It seemed to be more of a childrens home in these day where conditions were much better than when you were there. They were given a good education and plenty of food and appeared to be quite well looked after. I believe he played in the pipeband and went on to join the army. I read about the De la salle brothers, they sounded really evil but they took over after he had gone.
I am so sorry to hear about your experiences nobody should ever have to experience that sort of treatment, especially not children. Hope this hasn't brought back too many bad memories. Thank you for replying
Cheers Fay
-
Hi Fay
Glad to hear you found out a bit more about your relative and the school,they had a pipe band while i was there but not something i joined, Some of the boys who were in were only there because their parents couldn't look after them,sad to say the suffered the same brutality, the only abuse i ever suffered was purely physical and this would happen on a daily basis, i know some kids suffered other types of abuse at the hands of the brothers but i never heard in the two and a half years that i was there of anything of that nature happening in the Joe's (St Josephs) its only memories now but still very fresh and i don't dwell on it too much, Glad to say i went on to become the Father of three boys and two girls(grown up now) whom i've never told about my time in that place plus nine grandchildren.. My second youngest granddaughter Rhianna being the young girl who was mauled by the rottweilers here in Dundee last year and for which the owner of these dogs went to prison two weeks ago .. Hope you find out everything you are looking for regarding St Josephs and should you wish to ask me anything dont hesitate to ask.
Take care
Eddie
-
Just thought you may be interested , the records for st joseph school tranent are kept at ..
De Salle Provincilate 140 banbury road oxford 0X2 7BP,i have just written to them as my grandfather was there from 1922 to 1930
Paula
-
Hello,
I grew up in Tranent and remember the boys from St Joseph's walking up to the cinema(The Cuds). They walked in pairs and I seem to have a memory of fawn raincoats and caps. That was in the late 1950s, early-mid 1960s.
Perhaps you have already read the history of the school. Sketches of Tranent in Olden Time (1881) by J Sands is now available free online. There is a whole chapter on Stiell's Charity School.
www.archive.org/.../sketchestranent01sandgoog/sketchestranent01san.
Mags
-
Hi Mags,
I was born in Tranent in 1948 then lived in Port Seton, I do remember them walking in pairs. They used to walk to the Port Seton Pool, had navy blue polo neck jerseys, we used to call them Jaggy Jerseys.
I tried your link, but it didn't open up for me.
Tom
-
Hi,
I have found a link to the De La Salle brothers, http://www.delasalle.org.uk/fsc/brothers.htm
Tom
-
Sorry Tom,
Have copied and pasted from archive.org
www.archive.org/stream/sketchestranent01sandgoog/sketchestranent01sandgoog_djvu.txt
Hope this works.
Mags
-
Hi Mags,
Yes, it works now. I never knew that existed before, been reading about Battle of Prestonpans for last 30 minutes, Great link.
Tom
-
Hello Tom,
The book was republished by Kessinger Publishing and I bought a copy as I have been trying to find out more about George Elder who was killed in the street in the Tranent Massacre. Unfortunately all sources I have looked at don't give any more information other than he was "of Tranent". My 3xggf was George Elder Montgomery born 10 Nov 1797. His parents were David Montgomery and Christian Elder daughter of George Elder and Jean Steele. Christian also had a brother George(born 1777, died 1836 aged 59). Unfortunately I am unable to find a death for Christian's father and to add to the mix, there are 2 x George Elder born 1762 in Prestonpans and 1769 in Haddington. It may be that 1762 George moved to Tranent or that it was Christian's father who was killed. So happy hunting!
By the way, I am a few years younger than you are - 1952. Left Tranent 1972.
Mags
-
By the way, I am a few years younger than you are - 1952. Left Tranent 1972.
Mags
Hi Mags,
LOL, maybe thats how your memory is better.
-
Hi Mags,
There was a fair discussion on here before on the Tranent Massacre, see
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,419515.0.html, there are a few on here including Templar75. You could maybe add a wee post on that topic.
Tom
(Older definitely, wiser maybe?)
-
Hello Tom,
Have posted info re Tranent Massacre as you suggested.
Re wiser?
I would add definitely not ?, although younger senior moments are a regular happening for me!
Mags
-
Hi, I know this post is from a long time ago but did anyone ever get access to the records of St Joseph's Industrial School - Tranent.
I've just discovered my grandfather was there for 7 years from 1896.
Thanks,
Neil