[an error occurred while processing this directive] Axwell Park School, Blaydon-on Tyne, Northumberland
Ancestry UK

Axwell Park School, Blaydon on Tyne, Northumberland

In 1922, the Newcastle Industrial School for Boys moved out from its long-standing premises at Jubilee Road, Newcastle, to a new home at Axwell Park, Blaydon, where it became known as Axwell Park School. On 30th June, 1922, the establishment was formally certified as an Industrial School with accommodation for 150 boys, aged 8 to 12 years at their date of admission. As well as boys from Newcastle, the School took in boys from other Industrial Schools in the region that were being closed such as Sunderland, Durham and Middlesbrough. As before, the School continued to accept voluntary cases as well as those committed to detention by the courts. The School's superintendent in 1930 was Mr T.A. Robinson.

In 1933, Axwell Park became an Approved School, one of the new institutions introduced by the 1933 Children and Young Persons Act to replace the existing system of Reformatories and Industrial Schools. The School accommodated up to 150 Junior Boys aged below their 13th birthday at their date of admission. From 1962, the School was used for Intermediate Boys aged between their 12th and 14th birthdays on admission.

Former Axwell Park School, Blaydon, 2013. © Peter Higginbotham

Former Axwell Park School, Blaydon, 2013. © Peter Higginbotham

In around 1973, the school became a Community Home with Education (CHE) under the control of Newcastle Metropolitan Borough Council. The School closed in 1984 and after standing empty for many years, the property is now being converted into flats.

In more recent times, staff at the former Axwell Park School have been convicted of child abuse offences.

Records

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  • Tyne and Wear Archives, Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4JA. Holdings (covering both Newcastle and Axwell Park) include: Log books (1886-1966); Admission registers (1859-1969); Discharge registers (1905-68); Punishment books (1933-41); Management minutes (1847-1912, 1945-63).

Bibliography