Category: Wiltshire Reformatory School For Boys

Tascroft, Warminster

In Christ Church, Warminster, The First 150 Years, a booklet published in October 1980, to celebrate the 150th birthday of Christ Church, the Rev. John C. Day (Vicar) wrote:

A little farther on [from Folly Lane and Pine Lawns] is Tascroft, now a group of pleasant homes, but once a Reform School for boys. This was opened in 1856. Young lads committed there by the magistrates worked 20 acres of farm land. They would spend some 10 to 15 hours a week in normal school work and the rest of the time on the land. A parishioner tells me that he once met an old inmate of Tascroft who spent four years in the place without seeing home or family. He came from Swindon and was sentenced for stealing a loaf of bread. Another sad story is of a lad who killed himself with a pair of scissors in the cobbler’s shop at Tascroft. For many years afterwards the area of the old workshop was reputed to have been haunted by the spirit of the dead boy. Tascroft [Reformatory School] was closed in 1925.

The Reformatory School

Extract from The Changing Face Of Warminster by Wilfred Middlebrook, published in 1971:

A footpath climbs up through Nutball Wood from Cannimore, passing what was once the Reformatory School at Tascroft. It was later a dairy farm and is now converted into modern flats. The footpath rejoins Folly Lane before finally descending to join the Frome road.

The Reformatory was built in 1856. A report for January of that year stated that “a site has been selected for the Reformatory School at Bugley, near the Half Mile Road, called Tascroft. The site is of rare salubrity. A tender of £800 has been accepted for the building.”

The following year, the Chapel Of St. Laurence in Warminster was re-opened for services on Sunday mornings for inmates of the Union or Workhouse and the sixteen boys from the Reformatory. These lads had a special treat when the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria was celebrated, being brought in wagons to Sambourne Cricket Ground to see the firework display. As an added precaution the wagons were surrounded by hurdles to prevent the boys escaping.

The late Mr. James Rutty, J.P., of Upper Marsh Road, was at one time a carpentry instructor at the Reformatory School.

Annual Report Of The Wiltshire Reformatory, Warminster, 1889

Saturday 9th March 1889

Annual Report Of The Wiltshire Reformatory, Tascroft, Warminster

Wilts Reformatory. The annual report of this institution has just been issued. The committee state “they are again able to express a favourable opinion with regard to the work, the internal arrangements and discipline of the Institution. Indeed they believe the school was never in a better state of discipline than it is at present. They have, however, had two serious difficulties to contend with during the past twelve months. One arose from two outbreaks of scarlet fever – first in the early part of the year, and again in the autumn; and the other was caused by the trouble and anxiety connected with a change of superintendents. It is with regret that the committee have to report that one boy died from the fever, but owing to prompt and vigorous measures being taken, under medical advice, the disease was confined to a few cases on each occasion. Mr. and Mrs. W.P. Harold are the new resident superintendent and matron. Judging from the way in which the school so far has been managed, the committee consider that they have been fortunate in securing their services.

The following is the official report of the state of the school last summer:

“I have made my annual inspection to-day, and am glad to find the whole establishment in very good order and the boys; health quite restored. There was an outbreak of scarlet fever in April and May – six cases and one death. But the attack has passed away, and to-day the boys look well and thriving. I am pleased to find that good order has been well maintained throughout the year without much punishment. There has been indeed quite a minimum of punishment, and to-day the boys have exhibited nothing but commendable self-restraint and good behaviour. I find the whole place in good order externally. The farm looks well and the crops give promise of a fruitful yield. The dormitories were clean and comfortable. I went into the workshops and yards and found all going on steadily. I examined all the classes to-day in the schoolroom and found satisfactory progress and respectable proficiency: 19 in Standard V., 14 in Standard IV., 11 in Standard III., 14 in Standard II.  – total 58. Good results and improving work. Boys very quiet and anxious to do well. School in good order to-day and attending to its special work with fidelity. (Signed) Henry Rogers, H.M., Inspector. July 24th, 1888.”

Thirty-nine boys left the school in 1885-86-87, and have just been reported upon. Of this number 31 are known to be doing very well. 1 is doubtful, 4 have been re-convicted, and 3 are unknown. On January 1st, 1888, there were in the school 59, on licence 5; total 64. Of these there were discharged during 1888 – to their friends 13, died 1. During 1888 there were admitted 20; there are on licence 9; leaving in the school December 31st, 1888, 61. These are from Wilts 24, Dorset 18, Salisbury 1, Reading 1, Southampton 2, Manchester 4, Bristol 1, Bath 6, Exeter 3, Somerset 1. These are employed when not in the schoolroom – As tailors 7, shoemakers 5, cooks 2, cleaners 4, the rest in field occupation on the farm, or in work for the neighbouring farmers, and in fagot-making.

The expenditure connected with the establishment is set down at £1867 15s.

Inmates At The Wiltshire Reformatory School, Warminster, In 1871

A list of the inmates at the Wiltshire Reformatory School, at Tascroft, Warminster, Wiltshire, recorded for the Census of 1871 (Sunday 2nd April 1871):

James Andrews, aged 9, born Banbury, Oxfordshire. 
Fred Annett, aged 18, born Corsley, Wiltshire. 

Charles Beckett, aged 12, born Hindon, Wiltshire. 
William Bell, aged 17, born Salisbury, Wiltshire.  
Thomas Bridgeman, aged 17, born Dauntsey, Wiltshire. 
Thomas Bridgewater, aged 13, born Shinfield, Berkshire. 
William Brooks, aged 14, born Bristol, Gloucestershire.
Thomas Burgess, aged 16, born Warminster, Wiltshire. 
Jesse Bush, aged 19, born Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

Alfred Chorley, aged 15, born Bath, Somerset.
William Clements, aged 14, born Corsley, Wiltshire. 
Henry Cross, aged 13, born Banfield, Berkshire. 

George Dredge, aged 12, born Wales. 

Eli English, aged 16, born Malmesbury, Wiltshire.  

Tom Ferrone, aged 17, born Bucklebury, Berkshire.
Walter Ferrone, aged 9, born Bucklebury, Berkshire.
Thomas Finch, aged 13, born Kidderminster, Worcestershire.
William Freeman, aged 16, born Trowbridge, Wiltshire.
John Fox, aged 14, born Ireland. 
James Frost, aged 15, born Bath, Somerset. 

Frank Gadd, aged 13, born Winchester, Hampshire.
William Gadd, aged 16, born Winchester, Hampshire. 
John Gadfrey, aged 17, born Bath, Somerset. 

William Halfyard, aged 11, born Salisbury, Wiltshire. 
Thomas Hatcher, aged 13, born Salisbury, Wiltshire.
Joseph Hawkin, aged 17, born Bristol, Gloucestershire.

Henry Johnston, aged 17, born Bristol, Gloucestershire. 
Robert Johnston, aged 19, born Boston, Lincolnshire. 
William Jones, aged 16, born Dudley, Staffordshire.  

George Kelley, aged 15, born Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. 
George King, aged 18, born Abingdon, Berkshire. 
William King, aged 11, born Great Bedwin, Wiltshire. 

William Lake, aged 12, born Highworth, Wiltshire. 
F. Jno. Laws, aged 20, born Bath, Somerset.
Arthur Longhurst, aged 14, born Sunny Hill, Berkshire.

Mark Massey, aged 16, born Salisbury, Wiltshire. 

O.S. Norton, aged 11, born Gravesend, Kent. 

Oliver Payne, aged 15, born Crockerton, Wiltshire. 
Frank Prangley, aged 16, born Corsley, Wiltshire. 

Edwin Roe, aged 19, born Bath, Somerset.

Edwin Short, aged 14, born Frome, Somerset.
Joseph Short, aged 15, born Salisbury, Wiltshire.
William Stallwood, aged 14, born Kingswood, Oxfordshire. 
H.C. Swift, aged 15, born Salisbury, Wiltshire.

John Tillott, aged 15, born Bristol, Gloucestershire. 

George Wansborough, aged 14, born Chitterne, Wiltshire. 
James Ware, aged 13, born Wokingham, Berkshire.
James Warren, aged 14, born Warminster, Wiltshire.
 Henry Watson, aged 12, born Kingston, Middlesex.
Alfred Whiteman, aged 12, born Sevenhampton, Wiltshire.
Alfred Wittes, aged 15, born Norton Bavant, Wiltshire. 
Joseph Wootton, aged 15, born London, Middlesex.

Harvest Home At The Reformatory, Warminster

From The Warminster Parish Magazine And Church Register, No.10, Vol.4., October 1867:

The Harvest Home at the Reformatory was held on Thursday, the twenty-sixth. The games were kept up with much spirit, under the energetic management of Mr. Hendley, the master. The Reformatory was visited in the course of the day by Lord Heytesbury, the Vicar and Mrs. Philipps, Mr. Barton, Mr. Waugh, Mr. G. Powell, and Mr. and Mrs. Jacob, etc.

Annual Report Of Reformatory Schools 1862

The Warminster Miscellany, 1st October 1862, reported:

REFORMATORY SCHOOLS.
Mr Sydney Turner, the inspector appointed to visit the reformatory schools of Great Britain, has presented his annual report. He has to state that the number of young offenders in the 62 certified reformatories increased in the course of the year 1861 from 3803 to 4337, including 186 placed out on license and not yet finally discharged. Of the results of reformatories in the diminution and prevention of crime, he has to report that, after making allowance for unknown and doubtful cases, it may be taken as well ascertained that the treatment is successful in reforming at least 70 per cent.; and, considering that the system has had to deal at first with the more hardened offenders, the proportion may be expected to increase. Of the whole 1031 discharges in the year, only 18 boys or girls were sent away as hopelessly incorrigible; 90 went to sea, 22 enlisted, 110 emigrated, 660 went to service or employment or to the care of friends, 27 died, 15 were discharged on the ground of health, 89 absconded and were not recovered. The expenditure was £98,638; the Treasury payments for maintenance amounted to £66,374; the parents’ payments were only £2439; contributions from the rates produced £4750; contributions from voluntary inmates, £975; subscriptions and legacies, £14,136.