Saltley Reformatory School

[DollyB]

John Norton appears in the 1871 census as an inmate of the above school, aged 16, born Burton on Trent, Staffs.  Doing a general google search to see if I could find admission records I came across  hadrian14's query for the same school, answered in full by dusty2.  As the query now appears completed, I opened my query up as a new topic.  I would love to have access to John's records dusty 2 if you can accommodate my request.  Just the finishing touch as I am about to transfer my tree onto FTM.  That record was so comprehensive, you could just about see the family.  With many thanks ........ DollyB

[dusty2]

I'm hoping to make these records available at some point, when I finish my current project. In the meantime:

this is the main entry

Name, Age: John Norton, 15
Description: dark complexion, black hair, brown hair, good health, able-bodied
Date of reception [at Saltley]: 24 May 1870
Late residence: Burton on Trent
Parish he belongs to: Burton
Work: errand boy
Education: cannot read or write at all
Offence: stealing money
Circumstances which led to it: bad company
Sentence passed when, by whom, where: 26 Apr 1870, C W Lyon and William Wood Esqs, Burton petty sessions
Where imprisoned: Stafford
Sentence: 1 calendar month hard labour and 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals: none
Parents: Alfred and Mary Ann Norton, father a labourer
Parents' treatment of child: good
Parents' character: honest, sober, and in good health
Parents' wages: 17s per week
Amount parents may have to pay: 1s 3d [per week?]
Parents' residence: 190 Station Street, Burton on Trent
Superintendent of police: W Oswell, Burton

Additional information

24 May 1873 discharged

5 Feb 1875 called at the school. Is doing well, employed at Truman Harbury & Co's brewery Burton

9 Oct 1875 called again. Employed as before.

[DollyB]

Absolutely delighted! and most definitely the right person with Alfred and Mary Ann being his parents. Thank you very much indeed dusty 2.  DollyB.

[delphinium44]

I too have just discovered that one of my ancestors was sent to Saltley. His surname was Winfield and he was sent there from Loughborough in June/July 1895. His father had to pay 1s a week for his maintenance but as he failed to pay he was sent to prison for 28days the following year. Are these records online yet or can anyone supply me any further information about him please?

[dusty2]

Still working on another project first, but here is the information:

Name, Age: John William Winfield, 11
Description: fresh complexion, sandy hair, brown eyes, 4 ft 2½ ins, a mark on the left side of posterior, good health, able-bodied
Date of reception [at Saltley]: 14 May 1894
Late residence: 14 Sead [Bead? Blad?] Lane, Loughborough
Parish he belongs to: -
Work: school boy
Education: can read and write imperfectly (Stage III)
Offence: stealing eggs
Circumstances which led to it: bad company
Sentence passed when, by whom, where: 2 May 1894, Lord Seymour, Loughborough petty sessions
Where imprisoned: -
Sentence: 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals: 2 - 1, 19 Jan 1894, stealing a silver thimble, 3 strokes of the cane; 2, 24 Jan 1894, stealing ballet shoes, 6 strokes of the cane
Parents: William and Louisa Winfield, father a labourer, mother a housewife
Parents' treatment of child: good
Parents' character: mother convicted of receiving stolen goods
Parents' wages: not stated
Amount parents may have to pay: -
Parents' residence: -
Superintendent of police: Superintendent Smith

Additional information: none

[delphinium44]

Thank you very much dusty2. That's fascinating new information. After his mother's death in 1900 John William joined the Army for 12 years and served in NI, Egypt, Sudan and India. I knew the family was troubled but this adds a new slant.  My grandfather who was one of the younger brothers never talked much about his parents and I am beginning to get a flavour of why!!

[delphinium44]

Dusty2 one other thought just struck me. When he joined the Army John William Winfield gave his profession as Musician and so appears throughout his army service. Given his upbringing in Loughborough he didn't become a musician there! Is that something that he would have been taught in Saltley?

[dusty2]

Unlikely (but I suppose not impossible) - they appear to have taught tailoring, shoemaking, agricultural tasks, and, slightly oddly, spectacle making. It was not uncommon for even poor families to have a piano, so he may have showed musical aptitude, despite his background.

[delphinium44]

Dusty2 I just read your piece about the site of Saltley Reformatory School. I am astonished to find that it was on Fordrough Lane and that the land was taken over by the Post Office. I used to work for BT and visited the BT factory on Fordrough Lane which may well be on  the same site. Now I am really intrigued! Is there an extant photo of the school?