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Boys' Training Establishments

Peter Monks

CUMBERLAND  No details, just a mention of the name.

GOLIATH  London School Board, 480 boys, destroyed by fire 22 Dec 1875

CORNWALL  Reformatory ship at Woolwich, 600 boys, 240 per year sent to sea.

WARSPITE  Established 1756, Marine Society for destitute boys who had been apprenticed but failed to complete their trades.

WORCESTER  1862 To train boys as future officers for the Merchant Navy.

CHICHESTER  (Two ships.)
    1 1866-1889 Shaftsbury Homes, some 200 boys.
    2 ex Ballerina sailing barge purchased 1889, brigantine rigged, sold 1917.

EXMOUTH  Supported by 'Poor Law Unions' nearly 600 boys.

SHAFTSBURY  (Named after Lord Shaftsbury - but not part of the Shaftsbury homes)  School Board Of London, Southwark.  500 boys.  Very high costs and confusion over ships and owners causing fund raising donations problems.

JOHN COLLETT  Floating barge at London Borough of Southwark.  For temporary use by troubled kids.

SIR ALAN HERBERT  Thames barge, 1980 to 1988 Brightlingsea, Essex.  For children on court orders.  A sailing and adventure centre.

ARETHUSA under Shaftsbury Homes and Arethusa Society.
1 The Society was offered a choice of PHAETON, SEVERN, ARETHUSA which they chose, she was built Pembroke and launched 20 June 1849.  Handed over by the Royal Navy 1874 and used until 1933, moored 50 yards astern of the CHICHESTER.  250 boys plus staff and wives.  Built at Pembroke, launched 20 June 1849.
2 ex PEKING 1933 to 1975
3 Ketch for sail training, 1975 to 1982
4 Ketch for sail training, in use today.

GLEN STRATHALLAN  Shaftsbury Homes and Arethusa Society.  An ocean going steam yacht received in 1955 with the instructions that when it was no longer required, that it be taken to sea and scuttled.  This took place in 1970, but the engine was saved and placed in the Science Museum.

This might add to the general knowledge of those seeking ancestors.  I can only wonder about all those boys, hundreds and hundreds of them, mostly destitute - no welfare state in those days!!  Most being trained for the sea, and mostly getting 'excellent' reports for skills and character.  Reference:   "The Chance of a Lifetime" by Marion Bailey The Shaftsbury Homes and Arethusa--150 years.   ISBN 0-946604-11-8

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