Close Family Tree

Name: John Robert Close
Relation to Head: Inmate
Married: No
Age: 14
Occupation: Scholar
Born: Sunderland, Durham

The Abbot Memorial Industrial School

A mixed School until 1905.

Certified 24th January 1869, and school operations commenced 8th February 1869. The school was re-certified in 1905 for 150 boys only and in 1924 reduced to 125 boys.

A spacious purpose-built brick building, erected in 1868 by Mrs Abbot, in memory of her husband and are intended for 100 boys and 50 girls of the destitute and unfortunate class; the boys are taught shoe making, gardening, tailoring and mat making and the girls, sewing, knitting and the usual domestic occupation; when their time is complete they are placed out to suitable situations. The school is managed by a committee selected annually from governors.