The material below is taken from the web page Unless otherwise indicated, content is copyright Peter Higginbotham and may not be re-published without permission.
Ancestry UK

Gordon Boys' Home, Cornbrook, near Manchester, Lancashire

What subsequently became known as the Gordon Boys' Home was established in 1882 by the Manchester and Salford Children's Mission. It was located in a property known as Cornbrook Abbey on the Chester Road, Cornbrook, in the Old Trafford district of Manchester. The premises had been purchased at a cost of £1,260 and after enlargement could accommodate 50 boys. The home was aimed at reforming delinquent boys who had been brought before the courts but were first-time offenders.

In October 1890, the home was revealed to be more than £600 in debt. This was, it appeared, due to the extravagance and financial ineptitude of the home's manager, Alexander Devine. The following year, the work of the home was taken over by the Manchester and Salford Boys' and Girls' Refuges (now the Together Trust).

Records

Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.

  • Former residents of the Together Trust — formerly known as the Manchester and Salford Boys' and Girls' Refuges and Homes (1870-1959) then the Boys' and Girls' Welfare Society (1960-2005) — may access their records, as can relatives of deceased former residents. For details on how to do this, visit the charity's Access to Information web page.

Bibliography

Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.