Mother and Baby Homes — London N/NW Postal Districts
The establishments listed below are believed to have provided at least some accommodation for unmarried mothers and their babies, during at least some of their existence. They include maternity homes, before-and-after-confinement care homes, hostels for pregnant working girls or working mothers, and Irish County Homes. Homes that in their day were labelled Magdalen Homes are listed elsewhere.
Where applicable, the 'Places' column shows the accommodation provided for
mothers and babies (exact figures could change over time).
Note that over the years, many institutions changed location and/or name, sometimes more than once.
The accommodation provided, age of those admitted etc. at a home could also vary.
Name and Location | Founded/ | Closed/ | Classes Received, Weekly fees, etc. | Places | Admission Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
St Margaret's, 218 Camden Road, Camden N16 | by 1949 | Before and After Care Home. | 9m/5b | ||
Mother And Baby Home, Henry Carter House, Camden Square, Camden NW1 | 1953 | 1954 | |||
St Helena's Convalescent Home, Thorverton Road, Cricklewood Lane, Cricklewood NW2 | 1895 | by 1953 | Girls who, though once fallen, are now in service and require a holiday, and others, 5s.; mothers and infants, 1s. 6d., first fall only. No infectious cases. | 13m/6b | under 26 |
Hornsey Deanery Refuge, Beacon Lodge, 25 Eastern Road, East Finchley N2 | by 1935 | Fallen and friendless girls; 10s. Before and 12s.6d. After confinement; Hornsey Deanery cases free. | 20m/12b | under 30 | |
Church Army Home, 'Crathorne', Oak Lane, East Finchley N2 | 1914 | Certified feeble-minded mothers from local authorities and others, with infants. | 20 | over 16 | |
Hampstead Mother and Baby Home, 17 Daleham Gardens, Hampstead NW3 | by 1949 | Before and After Care Home. | 14m/7b | over 17 | |
Hampstead Hostel for Mothers and Babies, 43 Rosslyn Hill, Hampstead NW3 | 1927 | Unmarried mothers with their babies, for three months; 10s. | 10 | under 30 | |
Hampstead Hostel for Mothers and Babies, 7 Fitzjohn's Avenue, Hampstead NW3 | by 1935 | Unmarried mothers with their babies, 10s. Stay till babies are 1 year old. | 15 | under 30 | |
Quadrant Hostel, 20-22 Highbury Quadrant, Highbury N5 | 1918 | Before and After Care Home (V.D. cases). | 24m/10b | 16-25 | |
Kingsway House, 28 Highbury Grove, Highbury N5 | 1951 | 1958 | After Care Hostel. Mothers go to dialy work and babies to local Day Nurseries. | 16m/16b | |
St Nicholas' Home for Mothers and Babies, 31 Highbury Hill, Highbury N5 | 1928 | Unmarried R.C. mothers with a first child; also expectant mothers. | 12m/12b | 17-26 | |
Highbury Salvation Army Hostel, Field View, 17 Highbury Terrace, Highbury N5 | by 1920 | Unmarried mothers with their infants. | 23m/20b | no limit | |
Mother and Baby Home, Hopedene, 15 Aubert Park, Highbury N5 | 1963 | 1985 | |||
St Pelagia's Home, 25-27 Bickerton Road, Highgate N19 | c.1892 | Mothers, with their first illegitimate children, after confinement. Remain twelve months, free. Others lately fallen. | 50 | no limit | |
St Pelagia's Home, Sacred Heart Convent, 34 West Hill, Highgate N6 | c.1918 | Mothers, with their first illegitimate children, after confinement. Remain twelve months, free. Others lately fallen. | 97m/56b | no limit | |
St Joseph's Maternity Home, Sacred Heart Convent, 34 West Hill, Highgate N6 | by 1949 | Maternity Home withSt Pelagia's. | 97m/56b | no limit | |
West London Mission Maternity Hostel, 35 Parkhurst Road, Holloway N7 | 1923 | Expectant mothers, suffering from V.D.; payment according to circumstances. | 11 | no limit | |
Red Gables, 113 Crouch Hill, Hornsey N8 | by 1964 | Before and After Care Home. | 15m/12b | ||
35 Eastern Road, Hornsey N2 | by 1956 | Lying-in Home | 14m | ||
Kilburn Maternity Home, 88 Carlton Vale, Kilburn NW6 | 1882 | Girls having a Queen Charlotte's letter received before and after confinement; 5s. where possible. | 10 | under 30 | |
Paddington andSt Marylebone Ladies' Association Home / Main Memorial Home, 141 West End Lane, Maida Vale NW6 | by 1935 | Maternity cases and others, 10s. | 14m/ 7b | under 30 | |
Queen Charlotte's Lying-in / Maternity Hospital, 191 Marylebone Road, Marylebone NW1 | 1752 | Women for their confinement with subscriber's letter. | 70 | no limit | |
St Margaret's Home, 193 Albany Street, Marylebone NW1 | 1888 | Fallen women before and after confinement; 5s. Friends must arrange to take charge of child when a fortnight old. | 11 | under 30 | |
London Diocesan Hostel, Guilford House, 92/94 Torrington Park, North Finchley N12 | c.1950 | Before and After Care Home. | 28m/14b | over 15 | |
National Association for Feeble-minded Home, 'Wolseley', Woodside Avenue, North Finchley N12 | 1902 | Feeble-minded mothers from Workhouses, 10s.; with infants, 15s. | 15 | no limit | |
St Cyprian's Bethesda, 38 Charlbert Street, St John's Wood NW8 | by 1912 | Young servants, etc. Maternity cases, 5s.; Penitentiary cases, 2s. 6d. Remain 2 years. | 16 | 14-18 | |
Crossroads Club, 88-90 Alexandra Road, St John's Wood NW8 | 1919 | Girls of previous good character; 15s. Also mothers and babies. | 40 | under 52 | |
Mayfair Union Maternity Home, St Agatha's Home, 48 St John's Wood Road, St John's Wood NW8 | 1903 | Superior servants and others, 7s. Remain 6 months. | 12m/6b | 14-25 | |
Mayfair Union Maternity Home, St Agatha's House, 39 Lancaster Road, St John's Wood NW3 | by 1935 | Superior servants and others; 10s. After birth of child. Remain 3 months. | 10 | no limit | |
St Mary's, 153 Stamford Hill, Stoke Newington N16 | 1918 | Unmarried mothers; 7s. 6d. before and 12s. 6d. after confinement. Remain at least one year. | 22m/12b | 16-20 | |
Crossways Maternity Home, 9 Amhurst Park, Stamford Hill, Stoke Newington N16 | 1912 | Before and After Care Home. | 23m/19b | no limit | |
Salvation Army Maternity Home, Cotland, 9 Amhurst Park, Stamford Hill, Stoke Newington N16 | 1912 | Girls and women awaiting admission to Mothers' Hospital. Later Before and After Care Home. | 38m/19b | no limit | |
Salvation Army Home, Hillsborough House, Rookwood Road, Stoke Newington N16 | 1918 | Girls before and after admission to Maternity Hospital, 7s. 6d. | 17m/20b | no limit | |
Salvation Army Maternity Home, Lorne House No.1, 16 Rectory Road, Stoke Newington N16 | 1909 | Girls awaiting admission to Maternity Hospital. | 12 | no limit | |
St Mary's Shelter, 34 Craven Park, Willesden NW10 | 1908 | Fallen and friendless girls; maternity cases temporarily. Payment according to circumstances. | 10 | 14-30 | |
Our Lady's Hostel for Business Girls, Willesden NW10 | 1928 | 1940 |
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