in

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

These mugshots show the children from the Edwardian era arrested for petty crimes and are part of a comprehensive photographic collection of Tyne-Wear Archives. These minors were detained in the British town of North Shields.

The Edwardian era in Great Britain began in a period of uncertainty, and Edwardians faced a period of unsettlement that had its roots in the past. Britain was still the wealthiest country in Europe, and the other countries were still catching up. The social and economic issues were getting severe. Poverty was one of the core problems, and it rose dramatically during the Edwardian era. The majority of the population was crowded into the cities, and in many cases, wages had fallen, although the cost of living continued to grow. Petty crimes such as theft and shoplifting among children were increasing day by day. The main reason for this was the lack of education and the increase in urban poverty due to the growing industrial activity.

As more and more people moved to the cities for a better future, poverty increased, and the slums proliferated. The children suffered through violence at home, and poverty meant that many skipped schools and took to the streets to engage in petty thievery and pickpocketing. The government created various laws to deal with these types of crimes committed by young offenders. During the 1950s, reformatory and industrial schools were first introduced. In 1889, the ‘Children’s Charter’ introduced legal protections for children from various types of cruelty and enabled the state to intervene in family life. These changes were part of a gradual evolution in childhood and a growing interest in how youth’s experiences shaped the adult. These efforts finally bore fruit in the Children Act of 1908, one of several reforms of the Liberal Governments of 1906-14, which included the provision of school meals, school medical inspections, and pensions for orphans.

#1 John Legg, 19, arrested for stealing beer, 1905.

John Legg, 19, arrested for stealing beer, 1905.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#2 David Lloyd, 15, arrested for stealing brushes and a box, 1902.

David Lloyd, 15, arrested for stealing brushes and a box, 1902.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#3 Susan Joice, 16, arrested for stealing money from a gas meter, 1903.

Susan Joice, 16, arrested for stealing money from a gas meter, 1903.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#4 William J. Kay, 18, arrested on suspicion of planning to commit a felony, 1907.

William J. Kay, 18, arrested on suspicion of planning to commit a felony, 1907.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#5 Stephen Fitzgibbon, 17, arrested for a series of thefts, 1907.

Stephen Fitzgibbon, 17, arrested for a series of thefts, 1907.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#6 Charles Pearson, 19, arrested for stealing from offices, 1907.

Charles Pearson, 19, arrested for stealing from offices, 1907.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#7 Thomas Pearson, 16, arrested for thefts from backyards, 1907.

Thomas Pearson, 16, arrested for thefts from backyards, 1907.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#8 Francis Smith, 20, arrested for stealing a copper vessel, 1908.

Francis Smith, 20, arrested for stealing a copper vessel, 1908.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#9 Arthur Convery, 19, arrested for stealing from a gas meter, 1905.

Arthur Convery, 19, arrested for stealing from a gas meter, 1905.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#10 Edwin Frankland, 17, arrested for breaking into a house, 1905.

Edwin Frankland, 17, arrested for breaking into a house, 1905.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#11 George Wilson, 17, arrested for stealing from his father, 1907.

George Wilson, 17, arrested for stealing from his father, 1907.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#12 Edward Roberts, 19, arrested for stealing from a gas meter, 1905.

Edward Roberts, 19, arrested for stealing from a gas meter, 1905.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#13 John Dowson, 19, arrested for stealing from a gas meter, 1905.

John Dowson, 19, arrested for stealing from a gas meter, 1905.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#14 George Herbert Morton, 17, arrested for theft, 1906.

George Herbert Morton, 17, arrested for theft, 1906.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#15 Percy John Proctor, 16, arrested for fraud, 1906.

Percy John Proctor, 16, arrested for fraud, 1906.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#16 George Thompson, 17, arrested for stealing from a ship chandler’s store, 1903.

George Thompson, 17, arrested for stealing from a ship chandler’s store, 1903.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#17 John Fatherley, 16, arrested for stealing from a ship chandler’s store, 1903.

John Fatherley, 16, arrested for stealing from a ship chandler’s store, 1903.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#18 Charles Marr, 14, arrested for an undisclosed reason, 1906.

Charles Marr, 14, arrested for an undisclosed reason, 1906.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#19 John Scott, age unspecified, arrested for stealing from a shop door, 1906.

John Scott, age unspecified, arrested for stealing from a shop door, 1906.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#20 Thomas Wallace, 18, arrested for indecent exposure, 1905.

Thomas Wallace, 18, arrested for indecent exposure, 1905.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#21 Benjamin McMurdo, 15, arrested for breaking into shops, 1905.

Benjamin McMurdo, 15, arrested for breaking into shops, 1905.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#22 William Balmer, 15, arrested for shopbreaking, 1902.

William Balmer, 15, arrested for shopbreaking, 1902.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#23 George Burn, 14, arrested for stealing brushes and a box, 1902.

George Burn, 14, arrested for stealing brushes and a box, 1902.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#24 Dora Agnes Sanderson, 16, arrested for theft, 1906.

Dora Agnes Sanderson, 16, arrested for theft, 1906.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#25 Alice Maud Marr, 17, arrested for stealing doormats, 1907.

Alice Maud Marr, 17, arrested for stealing doormats, 1907.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#26 Thomas Kane, 16, arrested for stealing a pony, harness, and cart, 1904.

Thomas Kane, 16, arrested for stealing a pony, harness, and cart, 1904.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#27 Gilbert Wheatley, 19, arrested for loitering with intent to commit a felony, 1904.

Gilbert Wheatley, 19, arrested for loitering with intent to commit a felony, 1904.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#28 Oscar Carlson, age unknown, arrested for theft, 1903.

Oscar Carlson, age unknown, arrested for theft, 1903.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#29 William Wadham, age unknown, arrested for sleeping outdoors, 1904.

William Wadham, age unknown, arrested for sleeping outdoors, 1904.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#30 George Taylor, 17, arrested on suspicion of planning to commit a felony, 1907.

George Taylor, 17, arrested on suspicion of planning to commit a felony, 1907.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#31 Percy Swallow, 16, arrested for stealing a watch, 1907.

Percy Swallow, 16, arrested for stealing a watch, 1907.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#32 Margaret Leadbitter, 12, arrested for stealing money from other children, 1904.

Margaret Leadbitter, 12, arrested for stealing money from other children, 1904.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#33 Margaret Ann O’Brien, 14, arrested for obtaining money by false pretenses, 1904.

Margaret Ann O’Brien, 14, arrested for obtaining money by false pretenses, 1904.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#34 William Morrissey, age unknown, arrested for sleeping outdoors, 1904.

William Morrissey, age unknown, arrested for sleeping outdoors, 1904.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#35 William Wilson, 16, arrested for stealing fish, 1905.

William Wilson, 16, arrested for stealing fish, 1905.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#36 Robert Richardson, 18, arrested for breaking and entering, 1907.

Robert Richardson, 18, arrested for breaking and entering, 1907.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#37 Sidney Forrest, 17, arrested for stealing a pair of reins and two whips, 1908.

Sidney Forrest, 17, arrested for stealing a pair of reins and two whips, 1908.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#38 Charles Johnson, age unknown, arrested for stealing sash weights, 1904.

Charles Johnson, age unknown, arrested for stealing sash weights, 1904.

Leave a Reply

Rare Historical Mugshots of Little Edwardian Child Criminals From the 1900s

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Avatar of Jacob Aberto

Written by Jacob Aberto

Sincere, friendly, curious, ambitious, enthusiast. I'm a content crafter and social media expert. I love Classic Movies because their dialogue, scenery and stories are awesome.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *