The reformatory girl

I so wished I’d had £251 to spare back in December, to buy this wonderful collection of papers on eBay:

Victorian Reformatory - from Abel and Haron's Spanking Blog

Look closely and you’ll see the phrase “Reformatory School”, for – in the words of the seller – the item comprised:

Small group of 5 documents/papers dated 1855 concerning poor Catherine Regan aged 13, who was convicted of stealing at August sessions at Liverpool in 1854. She is admitted to Birmingham Reformatory School

1. Detailed 3 page admission form sets out her sad past: her crime is pardoned conditional on her residence at Birmingham Reformatory School.

2. Detailed 11 page 8vo letter in support from Rev Thomas Carter 18 Jan 1855 of Liverpool Reformatory: Carter was a leading light in the Victorian reformatory school movement.

3. Folio 4 page ms conditional pardon signed at head by [Queen] Victoria & inside by [Prime Minister] Palmerston.

4. Ms copy of pardon

5. Telegram from Carter to B’ham solicitor

It’s all described as “an interesting insight into the workings of the Victorian legal system”. That it also has so much potential to form the basis of a wonderful scene was overlooked – but perhaps not by the buyer who paid £250, as Cath (who spotted the item in the first place) and I watched enviously from the sidelines.

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