Coventry, Tile Hill Reformatory

TileHillKid.UK - The Old Reformatory

Photo colourised by William Hartley

The Old Reformatory [near Jobs Lane/St James Church, number 419 Tile Hill Lane] c1961

map of the Old Reformatory [near Jobs Lane/St James Church, Tile Hill Lane] c1889

The Old Reformatory at 419 Tile Hill Lane was an old half-timbered, low-beamed cottage to the front, with redbrick buildings added to the rear in the 19thC. when it was turned into an institution. The Reformatory had been operated by a private committee on which Lord Leigh served and was established in the summer of 1856. Then it was known as 'The Warwickshire Reformatory Institution for Girls' with accommodation for 22 inmates. In 1869 the girls were moved to a larger building in Little Park Street in Coventry, previously 'The Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital'. Here there was room for 40 inmates, deriving income from voluntary contributions, Government grants, work done by the girls and payments from parents.

The buildings in Tile Hill Lane had barred windows and doors with heavy locks and bolts. Spy-holes in doors were still in place when the buildings were demolished in January 1961. The last residents were Mr and Mrs C.A. Maddison and Mrs C. Wood.

photo colourised by William Hartley

rear of The Old Reformatory c1961

1851/1881 Census

No one was listed as resident at 'The Reformatory', as such.
In 1851 it was thought to be a farm cottage before being turned into an institution in 1856.
The Old Reformatory buildings were likely residential again in 1881.

In 1881, at Little Park Street in Coventry, home of the 'New Reformatory', the staff and inmates were as follows:

Institution: "Reformatory" Little Park Street
Census Place: Coventry St Michael, Warwick, England
Source: FHL Film 1341732 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 3067 Folio 10 Page 12
* Staff * Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Hannah Maria PHILLIPS U 41 F Haverfordwest, Pembroke, Wales Rel: Head Occ: Superintendant (Prison)
Kate C. WHIMBEY U 33 F Southwell, Nottingham, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Governess (Prison)
Sarah Elizh. PERRY M 36 F Nailsworth, Gloucester, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Laundress (Prison)
Mary ALLEN M 45 F Coal Brookdale, Shropshire, England Rel: Boarder Occ: General Assistant
* Inmates * Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Mary BARNES U 18 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Sarah Ann SMITH U 17 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Emma THORLEY U 18 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Clara BIRCH U 18 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Matilda WOODFIELD U17 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Emily WESLEY U 17 F Burton On Trent, Stafford, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Mary ROBINSON U 17 F Tysoe, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Betsy COX U 17 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Clara BLOCKLEY U 17 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Jane ELSON U 16 F Rugby, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Jane JOHNSON U 17 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Louisa CONSTANT U 17 F Brinklow, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Elizabeth WALDRON U14 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Louisa FOXHALL U 16 F Hatton, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Margaret COOPER U 16 F Wharton, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Emily WELLS U 16 F Stow In The Wold, Gloucester, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Mary PHILLIPS U 17 F Cherrick, Worcester, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Mary Ann TIMMS U 17 F Wolverhampton, Stafford, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Lucy BENSON U 15 F Worcester, Worcester, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Annie WHITING U 15 F Gloucester, Gloucester, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Schoolgirl
Alice HOUSE U 16 F Evesham, Worcester, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Fanny MAUGHAN U 15 F Sheffield, York, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Selina JONES U 15 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Fanny CORBETT U 17 F Pershore, Worcester, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Phoebe WINTERS U 14 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Eliza. BLAY 14 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Minnie DUCKWORTH 15 F Devonport, Devon, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Annie ANDERTON 15 F Warwick, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Emily BAXTER U 16 F Barnsley, Gloucester, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Matilda MORRIS 15 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Eliza. STOWELLS 15 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Sarah A. WADDINGTON 14 F Eckington, Lincoln, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Mary CLARIDGE 15 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Annie HELMSLEY 15 F Nottingham, Nottingham, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Sarah A. PRITCHARD 14 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Emily WATTS 15 F Worcester, Worcester, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Mary A. BAYLISS 14 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Emma RILEY 12 F Binton, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Ellen MANNISON 13 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Annie WOODHALL 14 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Lydia POULTNEY 14 F Burton On Trent, Stafford, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Annie MOORE 11 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Mary Ann JENKINS 15 F Birmingham, Warwick, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar
Ellen DAYNS 14 F Worcester, Worcester, England Rel: Boarder Occ: Scholar

The girls recorded as 'schoolgirls', 'scholars' and 'boarders', aged between 11 and 18, were likely abused, forced to do labour for little or no pay and regularly punished. Their crime? Perhaps they had run away from home. Perhaps they had had a relationship with a boy or man. Perhaps they were orphans.

map of the Old Reformatory [in relation to Fletchampstead area] c1889

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