Fornethy House had dorms for up to 75 girls

Fornethy House was built in 1915 and was gifted to Glasgow Corporation, the city’s local authority at the time, in 1955.

Six years later it was opened as a residential school, with dorms for up to 75 girls, five teachers and 10 domestic staff.

It closed in 1993, and is now abandoned and derelict.

Former pupils, now in their 40s and 60s, have told lawyers they were sexually abused, beaten, punched and force-fed by staff.

Most visited for six to eight weeks at a time, on the pretence they were going on holiday, and said they were assaulted multiple times per day.

They said children were often so scared they wet themselves and were then beaten further when adults found their soiled clothes.

It is understood some of the school staff are still alive, although others have died.

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “As this is an ongoing police investigation it would be inappropriate to comment.”

The women are being represented by Thompsons Solicitors, who called the inves t iga t ion “unprecedented”.

Eilish Lindsay, from Thompsons’ Dundee office, said: “The historic abuse unit at Thompsons has dealt with many cases of child abuse across the country but we have never encountered anything like Fornethy.

“In the space of just a few weeks more than 100 survivors h av e contac ted us about their experience at the school.

“The abuse suffered by young girls at this institution was disgraceful and was carried out over decades.

“I would encourage anyone who has been affected to contact us.”