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Ancestry UK

Gisburne House Industrial/Approved School for Girls, Watford, Hertfordshire

In October 17th, 1912, the London County Council's Gisburne House School for Girls was certified to operate as an Industrial School at 95 Gammons Lane, Leavesden Road, Watford. The premises could accommodate up to 57 girls who were under the age of 14 at their date of admission. The superintendent of the School was Miss A. Smith.

Gisburne House School, Watford, c.1930. © Peter Higginbotham

Open-air lessons at Gisburne House School, Watford, c.1930. © Peter Higginbotham

Dormitory at Gisburne House School, Watford, c.1930. © Peter Higginbotham

In 1933, the institution 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 could then accommodate up to 52 Junior Girls, aged under 15 at their date of admission. The headmistress in 1935 was Miss M.L. Carter.

In 1956, the School gave up its Approved School and became the Gisburne House Special Home for Girls, accommodating 27 children, aged 14 to 18.

In the mid-1960s, the premises were taken over by Islington Council for use as the Gisburne House Children's Home. The property no longer exists.

Records

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Bibliography

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