Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The origins of HM Young Offender Institute, Feltham can be traced back to 1854 when the erection of a reformatory school was first proposed by the Justices of the County of Middlesex. After the passing of the Industrial Schools Act of 1857, magistrates were empowered to sentence children aged between 7 and 14 to industrial schools. The Middlesex Industrial School, Feltham was built within the parish of Bedfont and opened on 1 January 1859. The school passed into the control of the London County Council in April 1889 and eventually closed in August 1909.
The premises then came under the control of the Prison Commissioners. Feltham Borstal Institution opened on 7 October 1910 when 23 boys were transferred from Borstal Institution at Borstal, Kent.
Feltham operated based on the Borstal model. Boys from the age of 16 to 21 who were taken into custody were either sent to Borstal training for 3 years, or to Boys' prison, where sentences were for a lesser period. Those who demonstrated criminal tendencies and in need of reform were sent to Borstal training. Training included instruction in trades, education, physical fitness and work. Good conduct could secure an early release on licence.
In September 1939, Feltham absorbed prisoners from the Boys' Prison at Wormwood Scrubs. This included boys awaiting trial, boy prisoners and those awaiting allocation to Borstal. In 1942, the remand centre moved back to Wormwood Scrubs but the Borstal Reception Centre and the Boys' prison remained at Feltham. In early 1945, the reception centre also went back to Wormwood Scrubs. By April 1946, the Boys' Prison at Feltham ceased to exist and Feltham reverted to being solely a Borstal.
In the early 1970s it was recognised that the buildings were inadequate and designs for a new institute were made incorporating a new remand centre to replace nearby Ashford. The new Feltham was opened in August 1983, although the merger was delayed. HM Young Offender Institution and Remand Centre Feltham was formed by the amalgamation of Ashford Remand Centre and Feltham Borstal in 1991.