I have located an ancestor's on the 1911 Census at the Girls' Reformatory at 3 Tatham Street, in Sunderland. Also, I recently found the following Newcastle Newspaper Chronicle's article published on the 7th Nov 1906:
A Gateshead Girl in Trouble
At the Gateshead Borough Police Court, this morning, Emma Aitchison, 14, was charged with having stolen 6s.
Mary Bell, 7, Morrison Street, said the accused's parents were dead. Shortly before the accused's mother died, witness promised that she would look after the accused. About three months ago, the accused asked witness to take her in, and witness did so. On Saturday last, prosecutrix sent the accused on an errand with 6s. She did not return until early on Monday morning, and she had then spent the money.
Detective Sergt. Burrows stated that when he took the accused into custody, she she said she had spent the money.
The Chief Constable stated that although the accused had not been before the magistrates, her history was not a good one, and he was of the opinion that it was a proper case for a reformatory.
It seems she was sent there by the end of 1906 and she was still there in 1911. I have searched on Ancestry but unfortunately there are no records of the Girl's Reformatory but the 1911 Census. I know Emma Aitchison lived at 141 Morrison Street at the time and that her parents have passed recently. Does anyone know if there are any records available online or that they can be ordered? I imagine they might be some at the local library, but unfortunately I don't live in England.
Thank you!
