Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request Borstal query

That's fantastic bert1 - a very interesting read and I shall make enquiries at Lancashire Archives. So thanks very much for passing the links on to me.

I have learnt a lot - thanks to all you who have replied. You have all given me great information, it is very much appreciated that you have taken the time and trouble to reply.

I came across the thread whilst researching my own history having served Borstal training in the 1970's, to answer your question where you served your training wasn't related to where you came from. When sentenced to Borstal training you were sent to the local Borstal allocation centre, this locally would be either Walton or Strangeways. In my case I went to Strangeways, there you would be assessed as to which Borstal would be best for you. Well that is what they tell you anyway. Borstal training was from six months to two years, wherever you went had different criteria for your earliest release.
You were allocated to a Borstal depending on what you were sentenced for, and your own record whilst in any previous institutions, and whatever training they thought you required.
You would be sent to an open, semi open, or a closed Borstal usually you served longer at an open, less at a semi open and the shortest at a closed. I spent two months at Strangeways before being allocated this counted towards the 2 years maximum but didn't count from your earliest release.
On the day I was moved there were 5 others moving, me and another lad from Birkenhead went to Hindley a closed Borstal our earliest release was the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Thursday 9 months from the date you entered depending on your behavior. Two from Liverpool went to Wetherby which was 15 Months minimum, another two one from Liverpool and one from Wallasey went to Hatfield which was 18 month minimum. They did try and keep you as local as possible not for your sake but for your family who had to do any travelling to visit you.
One problem I have found whilst researching is a lot of stuff is sealed for 75 and 100 years, especially places that held juveniles so getting facts is difficult, even regarding yourself. Even if you can get it it is not always useful I received some stuff from my time in care that was so redacted it wasn't worth reading.

Thanks esmerobbo, that's helped put things into perspective. I know nothing about the borstal system, where they are/where and how things work. I can only imagine how tough it would have been a century ago. Maybe in time more records may come online or be available; as you said, there is not much available, and it begs the question as to whether most records were destroyed.

Fitting the person to a borstal, depending on the crime and whatever the training necessary would be, is interesting. If this was the situation a century ago, then it seems as if there were attempts to rehabilitate offenders, and give them a better grounding for the future.

Thought I'd add the following information although it is slightly earlier before borstals started.

The following locations were used for detention of Birkenhead children in 1899:-

Albert Industrial School for the Protection of Boys, Birkenhead.
Bolton and County of Lancaster Certified Industrial School for the Protection of Boys.
Stockport Industrial School for Boys.
Stockport Industrial School for Girls.
Liverpool Nile Street Industrial School for the Protection of Girls.
Northumberland Village Homes for the Protection of Girls.
Bishop Brown Memorial Industrial School for Roman Catholic Boys, Stockport.
The St Anne's Industrial School for Roman Catholic Girls, Freshfield, Formby.
St Elizabeth's School of Industry for poor Roman Catholic girls, Salisbury.
St Margaret's Home Industrial School for Catholic Girls, Mill Hill, London.
Bristol Training Ship "Formidable" for the Protection of Boys.
"Clio" Training Ship for the Protection of Boys, Bangor.

Thanks very much diggingdeeper - as the Albert industrial school didn't close until 1924, then this may be relevant to me in my search.