Following the passage of legislation relating to the treatment of “delinquents” in 1866, James Hall of Tynemouth and a group of other local philanthropists purchased the training ship Cornwall from the Admiralty in 1868. As the Admiralty wished to retain the name Cornwall the ship was re-named the Wellesley. The ship provided an education for boys who were deemed as being destitute or suffering from parental neglect. The original aims of the training ship were to give shelter for the homeless and provide training and education that would equip the boys for a life at sea.
By 1873 a larger ship was needed – H.M.S. Boscawen was purchased and again re-named Wellesley. This ship continued to serve as a training vessel until 1914 when it was destroyed in a fire. Throughout the duration of First World War the boys were housed in the Tynemouth Palace and when war ended it was agreed that the school would find a permanent shore base. On 18 May 1920 the school moved from Tynemouth to Blyth. At the outbreak of war in 1939, the school was evacuated to Hamsterley, County Durham, and finally returned to Blyth after the war.
Green’s Home Industrial School in South Shields was certified as a branch of H.M.S. Wellesley on 19 December 1884. The school accommodated up to 60 boys up to the age of 12. At the age of 12 the boys were generally transferred to H.M.S. Wellesley for training in seamanship. The Training Ship Minute Books give information about life and practices on board the ship. Discipline was strict and the boys schooling and physical exercise was of prime importance. There were football, cricket, athletics and rugby teams and the boys also did gymnastics, tug of war and rowing. They also learnt life skills such as cooking and sewing.
Local Hero
John Buckley became a trainee on board the Wellesley on 2 August 1894. He appears in the admissions register aged 12 and was sent to the ship due to a refusal to attend school. He was discharged on 19 July 1898. John became a hero after saving the life of a fellow trainee. At 2.45pm on 1 December 1897, William Linscott fell overboard into the Tyne and was carried away by the current. John Buckley jumped into the river and managed to keep hold of Linscott until a boat came to pick them up. Due to his bravery he was put forward for an award by the captain of the Wellesley. On 22 December the fifteen year old was awarded the Large Bronze Medal by the Royal Humane Society for carrying out a successful rescue involving great personal risk. John Buckley later went on to join the Royal Navy Reserve as a Stoker, qualifying for the First World War British War Medal and Mercantile Marine Medal.
16 December 1897
The Captain Superintedent mentioned that some day previously a Wellesley boy, William Linscott fell overboard, when another Wellesley boy, John Buckley, aged 151/2 years , without divesting himself of his clothing jumped overboard, caught hold of Linscott and held him till rescue came, both being then much exhausted. It was agreed to give 5 shilling each to two Watermen whose assistance saved the boys from drowning; and it was understood that Buckley would receive a medal from the Royal Humane Society.
1891 MY husband’s Grandfather Thomas Sanderson Purvis was a schoolmaster at the Green’s Home industrial School, Mile End Road .
On the 1891 Census: OFFICER. Married. School Manager. of above. Wellesly
He would have taught my great grandfather as he was admitted there in 1891 to about 1896.
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Hello Janet, my father Brian Hall Fortunes mother was Nellie Purvis, your husbands grandfathers daughter I believe 🙂
Hi I am Alice Purvis’s Granddaughter ,Her father was Thomas Sanderson Purvis.I am Roland Ellison’s daughter Margaret.Any relatives please get in touch .
I would love to know if my Father went to this school as he was sent to the Training ship HMS Wellesley and on the 4th of June 1919 he was on board a ship called “Le Coq” and gave his home address as WellesleyTTS. His name is William Walter Henry Case.
I am his daughter Mrs Janice Cunningham nee Case
Hello, I will pass your enquiry on to our member of staff who deals with research. All staff are still working from home but he can contact you and discuss what may be possible when we return to the office.
William Petty Ashcroft was in charge of HMS Wellesley towards the end of his naval career . He was born 15 Feb 1823 Pembroke Dock and died 1897 Tynemouth . In his Reminiscences he tells the story of how as a Royal Navy Signaller he was the first person to raise the Royal Standard on the island of Hong Kong
Billy .
Thank you for the information.
We were told that my grandfather was on the Wellesley for the crime of stealing a pigeon. He was taught to swim by having a rope tied around his waist, and thrown into the Tyne! True or not? He was on the training ship for four years. Family lore, but maybe embellished?
His name was John Edward Mather. He was a nice man, so probably destitute rather than a delinquent.
Thank you for your comment. We are actually posting about the Wellesley again on our Facebook page today.
My grandfathers brother (great uncle?) was an inmate on the 1911 census. Would there be records for when and why children where sent here?
Hello, your enquiry has been passed to our researcher.
We’ve just found out my Grandfather was also on this ship around 1911. We’d love to know what he’d done to be sent there. His name, Hugh Annan.
Hello, your enquiry will be passed to our researcher.
My great uncle Samuel Arkless was, I believe, on the Wellesley in 1891. Then he is lost to the record. Are there files on individuals in the archive?
Hello, we have admission and discharge registers but not individual files on the boys.
Would you be able to tell me anything about George Cartwright from Stourbridge who age 14 is listed on the 1911 census as being on Tyne Training Ship Wellesley. He joined the Royal Navy in 1913 and appears to have been a bit of a lad.
Thank you for your enquiry. It has been passed to our researcher.
My great grandad was Thomas Sanderson Purvis, who I understand was a teacher at the Wellesley school for the younger children before they were transferred to the training ship. I would love to know more if any further information is available or if you can point me in the right direction.
Hello, we will pass your enquiry on to our researcher.
On the 1901 census my great great uncle was on the training ship at the age of 13. Are you able to give me more information on why he became on the ship and his circumstances.
His date of birth 1887/88.
Peter Richardson.
Born in South Shields.
Hello, we have passed your enquiry on to our researcher. Thank you.
My Grandfather William Barnes born 1878/79 was listed in the 1891 census as being resident on the Wellesley. Could you please supply any information you may have as to him? Many Thanks David Barnes
Hello, thank you for your enquiry, we will pass it on to our researcher.
Hi, my grandfather, William Holmes was listed as being on the ship when he was 9, and told a storey of saving the captains birds when the ship burned down. We always wondered if this was true. Any info would be great. Thank you.
Hello, could you please email your enquiry to archives@northumberland.gov.uk
Thank you.
My grandfather was William Melaney born 2 May 1889 in Gateshead, Durham. He is mentioned in the 1901 English census at the Greens Home Industrial School in South Shields, as an 11 year old. I would like to know if there are any records that are available to me regarding his admission and discharge from the school, including his mother and possible stepfather. I know very little about him, except that he did go to sea, because he deserted his ship with a couple of other men, when the ship docked in Brisbane QLD Australia, between 1904 and 1909, where he changed his surname from Melaney to Smith. Any information that you could provide to me would be very much appreciated.
Hello, could you please email your request to archives@northumberland.gov.uk
I recently came across a newspaper from 1920 which included a small snippet of info about my great-grandfather’s brother, Eric Probets (born 1909). It mentions that he attended Green’s Home Industrial School and was committed there on August 1916. I’m just wondering what records/information there is for him.
Hello, please email us at archives@northumberland.gov.uk Thank you.
My grandfather George William Jeffery appeared on the 1911 census age aprox 12 and then his name appears on the role of honour (date of discharge October 1st 1914) I would like to know when he was admitted to the Wellesley and the reason. Please can you contact me with information you may have or point me in the direction of where I may be able to find out.
Thank you
Hello, please email your request to archives@northumberland.gov.uk
Thank you.
My grand uncle, RICHARD ANDERSON b. 14.9.87 was listed on the Wellesley aged 14, as a boy under training. Could you, if possible, give me any information as to why he was put here and the dates please. Thank you.
Judith Anderson
Hello, could you please email us at archives@northumberland.gov.uk Thank you
I have an inkwell made from wood taken from the Wellesley.
My grandfather was superintendent of Northumberland reform schools and I presume it was given to him on his retirement.
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My father, Henry Woodgett, and his brothers, John and James, were sent to Wellesley after their grandparents died in 1912. Would you age any information about dates they were there?
Hello, could you please email your enquiry to archives@northumberland.gov.uk Thank you
Hello, I am Liesbeth Huisman from Holland and I am a researcher Of Faces To Grvaes in Groesbeek. We write the stories of 2.619 soldiers buried in Groesbeek. At his time I write the story of PARKINSON, Fredrick, who is born in Wigan in England, but he joined the Canadian Army in WW2. In his record I see he went to Wellesley Naval training School in Tyne/Blyth. His mother died when he was young and his father Thomas sent him to this school. Is there any information about him of his family? He was born Oktober 1, 1908 in Wigan.
It would be a great help for my research about his youth.
Thank you, regards, Liesbeth Huisman, Research Team Faces To Graves.
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Hello, please email you enquiry to archives@northumberland.gov.uk Thank you