West Yorkshire, England, Reformatory School Records, 1856-1914

This database contains records from three reform or industrial schools in West Yorkshire: Calder Farm Reformatory, East Moor Community Home School, and Shadwell Children's Centre. Records include admissions, commitments, and discharges.

The content of these records varies widely, depending the record’s purpose. Many will provide a boy’s

• name
• age
• birth date and place
• father’s name
• mother’s name

But these may be only the beginning. Depending on the record, you might also find a photo, physical description, baptism details, school attended, criminal history, admission details, religion, other relatives and addresses, trade or occupation, and other remarks on his experiences.

Discharge records can include date of discharge, address, and employment details. Some followed the boy for the first three years after discharge and might provide addresses, employers, and remarks.

The privacy cut-off date for these records is 1914.