Ancestry UK

Magdalen Homes — Warwickshire-Yorkshire

Although the term 'Magdalen' home or institution has become particularly associated with Ireland's Magdalen laundries, it covers to a much wider range of establishments. Rather than indicating the nature of these institutions' facilities or regime, it reflects the circumstances of their inmates — girls and young women who had 'fallen' (or who were considered in danger of doing so), primarily those who had become pregnant or involved in prostitution. More...

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.

Warwickshire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
The Girls' Shelter, 37 Portland Road, Edgbaston, Birminghamby 1951    
Hope Lodge, 134 Heathfield Road, Handsworth, Birmingham1908 Pre- and post-maternity cases; 10 Local Poor Law cases; £1, or with baby 25s.16under 23
Birmingham Ladies' Association (Mrs Rogers' Memorial Home), 276 Monument Road, Edgbaston, Birminghamby 1900By 1921Girls from Birmingham, free; others 3s. 6d.2514-20
Day Servants' Hostel, 276 Monument Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham1921 Working girls with first child.1618-26
Felix House Refuge, 293 St Vincent Street, Ladywood, Birmingham1910By 1930Fallen and friendless; temporarily; small payment except for diocesan cases.715-25
Birmingham Refuge, 35 Braithwaite Road, Sparkbrook, Birminghamby 1930 Friendless women and those in difficulty; temporarily.1015-25
Girls' Night Shelter, 39 Bath Row, Birmingham1888    
Hope Lodge, 51 Clarendon Road, Edgbaston, Birminghamby 19301952Pre- and post-maternity cases; 10 Local Poor Law cases; £1, or with baby 25s.30m/30bunder 23
Girls' Night Shelter, 9 Tennant Street, Birminghamby 1915 Fallen and friendless girls and women temporarily, at any hour.15under 25
Birmingham Girls' Refuge, 98 Ashted Row, Birmingham1903 Friendless and destitute girls; preference given to local cases; payment according to circumstances.6under 20
Girls' Night Refuge, Chapel House, Deritend, Birmingham1883 Receiving house, from which girls drafted into suitable Homes or situations.12under 20
Magdalen Asylum and Refuge for Birmingham and Midland Counties, Kirkholme, Clarendon Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham1829 Fallen girls; free.4014-18
Mrs Rogers' Memorial Home for Friendless Girls, Penelope Place, 47 Bristol Street, Birmingham1878 Young girls who have recently fallen or servants from bad houses. Payment, if from a distance, 6s. a week. 14-20
Birmingham Salvation Army Home, The Hawthorns, Ladywood Road, Birmingham1903 Girls and women in distress.58no limit
Ladywood House, Vincent Street, Ladywood, Birminghamby 1897 Girls from Birmingham, free; others 4s. 6d.3014-18
Coventry Shelter, 104 Little Park Street, Coventry1914 Rescue and preventive cases; 4s. If possible.7under 25
Coventry Ladies' Association, 17 Trafalgar Street, Coventry1895  4under 25
Coventry Shelter, 50 Holyhead Road, Coventryby 1930  12under 30
Coventry Ladies' Association, St Faith's Refuge, 25 Coundon Road, Coventryby 1912 Fallen and friendless girls; temporarily; 5s.10under 25
St Faith's Home, St Nicholas Street, Coventry1895 Fallen and friendless girls; remain from one to two years.2114-16
St Michael and All Angels Home and Penitentiary, 25 Charlotte Street, Leamington Spa1848 If placed by friends, a weekly payment of 3s. 6d., when it can be obtained; if destitute and friendless, free from any locality.3614-16
Leamington Ladies' Association, 5 Satchwell Street, Leamington Spa1896  3under 20
Leamington and Warwick Girls' Shelter, 6 Church Hill, Leamington Spa1925 Preventive and rescue cases; temporarily; some local cases free; others from 8s.6under 30
Worcester Diocesan House of Mercy, 6 Milverton Hill, Leamington Spa1855    
Magdalen Asylum, Wise Street, Leamington Spaby 1841    
Leamington Ladies' Association, Murray House, 9 Church Street, Leamington Spaby 1912 Friendless and fallen girls; temporarily.8under 25
Birmingham Laundry and Homes of Industry (Agatha Stacey Home), Enniskerry, 145 Darley Green Road, Knowle, Solihull1893 Feeble-minded young women who have had a first fall; 12s. 6d.; permanent cases received.25over 16

Westmorland

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Kendal Shelter, 1 Springfield Villas, 15 Castle Road, Kendalby 1935 Friendless or fallen; temporarily.8no limit
St Monica's Diocesan Maternity Home, 8 Dalton Drive, Sedbergh Road, Kendal1917 Maternity cases, 5s. from diocese; others 10s. In addition to £2 nursing fee.23m/20bunder 25
Kendal Shelter, Redmayne House, Douglas Yard, Kendal1914 Friendless or fallen; temporarily.2no limit

Wiltshire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Free Church Maternity and Training Home, The Retreat, Salisbury Street, Mere19151927First pre-maternity cases; 12s. and £1 1s. For confinement; remain six months.14no limit
Diocesan Refuge, 16 Rolleston Street, Salisburyby 1920 Friendless and fallen; temporarily; diocesan cases, free; others, 12s. 6d.8under 30
Diocesan Refuge, Hope House, 56 Mill Road, Salisburyby 1949by 1956Shelter and Before and After Care Home.13m/5b 
Diocesan Refuge, St Helen's, Wyndham Road, Salisbury1893 Friendless and fallen, temporarily.3under 25
Diocesan House of Mercy, St Mary's Home,St Martin's Church Street, Salisbury1831 Fallen women of the poorer classes. Remain two years. £5 on admission.40under 20
Shelter and Training Home for Friendless Girls, St Michael's, Endless Street, Salisbury1882 To save young girls from bad surroundings, and rescue the fallen. 5s. per week.  
Swindon and North Wilts Shelter, 41 Belle Vue, Swindonby 1930 Girls in moral need or difficulty.614-30
Swindon Shelter, 89 Clifton Street, Swindon1914 Rescue and preventive cases; temporarily.515-25

Worcestershire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Birmingham Laundry and Homes of Industry, Home No.1 1, Arrowfield Top, Alvechurch1892 Pure-minded and innocent young women over 16 preferred. £15 12s. a year.20over 15
St Agnes' Hostel, 36 Stourbridge Road, Dudleyby 1949    
St Agnes' Home, 6 The Inhedge, Kate's Hill, Dudleyby 1935 Friendless and fallen, temporarily; 4s. 6d.; local cases free.4no limit
St Agnes' Home, 9 Victoria Terrace, Dudleyby 1912 Friendless and fallen, temporarily; 4s. 6d.; local cases free.4under 26
Kidderminster Shelter, 208 Hurcott Road, Kidderminster1901 Fallen and preventive cases; temporarily.6under 25
Kidderminster Maternity Home, Greenhill Hostel, Chester Road, Kidderminsterby 1930 Expectant and nursing mothers with their first child; stay four months if possible; 10s. 6d. before confinement; 12s. 6d. after.12m/20 babiesunder 25
St Faith's Home, 165 Worcester Road, Malvernby 1949    
St Faith's Home, Alexandra Road, Malvern Link1925 All classes; temporarily.4no limit
Home Of The Good Shepherd for Girls, Ranelagh Road, Malvern Link18791990Fallen girls of working class, or hose from evil surroundigs.3314-21
St Monica's Home, Malvern Linkby 1912 Young mothers with babies; first fall only; diocesan cases 5s.; others 6s.6under 30
House of Refuge, 1 Melrose Cottages, Sansome Walk, Worcester1878 Fallen girls; temporarily.816-25
Worcester Shelter, 58 Woolhope Road, Worcester1901 Fallen girls and others; temporarily.215-24
Worcester Diocesan House of Shelter, Field House, Wyld's Lane, Worcester1878 Fallen girls; temporarily.1616-25

East Riding of Yorkshire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Driffield Hostel for Girls, 2 Downe Street, Driffield1920 Preventive and rescue cases; temporarily.614-30
East Riding Hostel, 31 New Road, Driffieldby 1935 Preventive and rescue cases; temporarily.614-30
Hull Sheltering Home, 2 Mason Street, Kingston upon Hull1884By 1912Temporary refuge for fallen girls.10no limit
Hull Temporary Home, 24 Nile Street, Kingston upon Hull1862  1516-20
Linden Penitentiary, 25 Nile Street, Kingston upon Hullby 1890 Free. Married women not received. Remain six months to two years  
Hull Sheltering Home, 37-39 Peel Street, Kingston upon Hullby 1912By 1930Fallen girls and preventive cases; free; temporarily; pre-maternity cases, 3s. 6d.1614-30
Home for Friendless Girls, 40 Clarendon Street, Spring Bank, Kingston upon Hull1886    
Hull Sheltering Home, 78 Beverley Road, Kingston upon Hullby 1930 Fallen girls and those in perilous surroundings; temporarily; 5s. if possible.17no limit
Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire Female Penitentiary, Hope House, 199 Anlaby Road, Kingston upon Hull18371937Fallen women; payment when possible. Remain two years.2716-25
Hull Female Penitentiary, Hope House, Wincolmlee, Kingston upon Hull18111825   
Hull Diocesan Maternity Home, Linnaeus House, 14 Linnaeus Street, Kingston upon Hull1915 First maternity cases, 7s. 6d.; extra-diocesan cases additional fee, £2 2s; remain six months.14under 25
Hull Salvation Army Home, Newington House, Lees Walk, Kingston upon Hull1908 Girls and women in distress.24no limit
Rescue Home, 1 Aldwark, York1884 Free; temporarily.  
Church Army Refuge, 15 Bootham Terrace, Yorkby 1930 Friendless and fallen; temporarily; payment according to circumstances.9m/4bno limit
York Shelter, 17 Bishophill, York1903by 1930Fallen women; temporarily.8no limit
York Penitentiary Society Refuge for Girls / House of Mercy, 19 Bishophill, Yorkby 1920by 1930Fallen women; free; remain two years.2514-25
Church Army Refuge, 31 East Mount Road, York1916 Friendless and fallen; temporarily.9m/4bno limit
York Training Home for Girls, Clifton Holme, Water End, York1919 Rescue cases; remain two years; payment when possible.2716-25
York House of Mercy, Clifton Holme, Water End, York1918 Fallen women; remain two years; payment when possible.2716-25
Ladies' Association Rescue Home, Grove House, Huntingdon Road, York1881 Fallen girls; temporarily received.6under 30

North Riding of Yorkshire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Malton, Norton and District Home, Ferndale, 65 Mill Street, Malton1914 Friendless and fallen; temporarily.3no limit
Holy Cross Refuge, 74 St Paul's Road, Middlesbroughby 1920 Fallen women temporarily; local cases free.8under 25
Holy Cross Refuge, 81 Southfield Road, Middlesbroughby 1949  x 
Holy Cross Refuge, 92 Lothian Road, Middlesbroughby 1930 Girls and women needing help; temporarily; local cases free.15no limit
Holy Cross Refuge, Benjamin Street, Middlesbrough1900 Fallen women temporarily; local cases free.5under 25
Home for Girls, Blue Hall, Lenthorpe, Middlesbroughby 1890 Girls and women in distress.  
St Mary's Mission House, 1 Granby Place, Queen Street, Scarborough1888 Fallen women; temporarily; 7s., when possible.12no limit
Scarborough Refuge, 21 Albemarle Crescent, Scarborough1900 Girls and women needing help; temporarily; payment where possible.12no limit
St Martin's Rescue Home, 7 Greenfield Terrace, Ramshill Road, Scarborough1884 Homeless and friendless girls or women; 3s. 6d. per week, if possible. over 15
Home of Hope, Sitwell Street, Falsgrave Road, Scarborough1873 Fallen girls; free; remain two years.1516-30

West Riding of Yorkshire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Home of Hope, 167 Park Road, Barnsley1880 Local cases free; others 5s. a week.1016-20
Home of Hope, 205-207 Park Road, Barnsleyby 1897 Fallen girls from Barnsley; free. Others 3s. 6d. or exchange.1016-20
Church Army Refuge, 38 Hopwood Street, Barnsley1906 Fallen and friendless; temporarily.414-20
Home of Hope, Harborough House, Queen's Road, Barnsleyby 1900By 1912 1016-20
St Monica's Rescue and Maternity Home, 11 Belle Vue, Bradfordby 1920 Maternity cases, 6s.; local cases, free.21under 30
St Monica's Maternity Home, 11 Belle Vue, Bradfordby 1930 Young unmarried expectant mothers.27under 30
St Monica's Rescue Home, 5 Belle Vue, Bradfordby 1930 Fallen and friendless; local cases free. under 30
Bradford House of Help, 55 Drewton Street, Bradford1907 Friendless and fallen; temporarily; free.814-24
The Refuge, Skinner Lane, Manningham, Bradford1885 Fallen women; 5s. per week if possible; remain one year. under 24
Salvation Army Home, Mount Cross, Broad Lane, Bramley1921 Unmarried mothers and their infants.20m/16bunder 27
Sheffield Diocesan Shelter, Hope House, 46 Cartwright Street, Doncaster1926  814-20
Temporary Refuge, 12 Launceston Street, Hanson Lane, Halifax1886 Fallen girls or women wishing to reform. 15-28
St Margaret's Rescue Home, St John's Lane, Halifax1908 Friendless and fallen girls; temporarily.416-30
Knaresborough and Harrogate Ladies' Association Home, 110 Harlow Terrace, Harrogate1904 Fallen women and preventive cases; free from the locality, others 3s. 6d.4no limit
Knaresborough and Harrogate Ladies' Association Home, 33 Robert Street, Harrogateby 1935 Fallen women and preventive cases; free from the locality; others 7s.6under 25
Knaresborough and Harrogate Ladies' Association Home, 5 Bower Road, Harrogateby 1930 Fallen women and preventive cases; free from the locality; others 7s.6under 25
Knaresborough and Harrogate Ladies' Association Home, St Monica's Home, 33 Robert Street, Harrogateby 1935 Fallen women and preventive cases; free from the locality, others 7s.6under 25
Knaresborough and Harrogate Ladies' Association Home, St Monica's Home, 5 Bower Road, Harrogateby 1920 Fallen women and preventive cases; free from the locality, others 3s. 6d.6under 25
St Katharine's Hostel, 10 King's Mill Lane, Huddersfield1920 Mothers and babies; payment according to circumstances.8m/6b 
Huddersfield Mission Home, 16 Queen Street, Huddersfield1907 Friendless or fallen; temporarily.13no limit
Huddersfield Mission Home, Queen's Square, Huddersfieldby 1930 Friendless or fallen; temporarily.13no limit
Ladies' Association Home, The Shelter, 10 Leeds Road, Huddersfield1890 Fallen girl who are transferred to penitentiaries,2no limit
Training Home, The Woodlands, Deighton, Huddersfieldby 1890 Women after first fall. Local cases free; others 3s. 6d. a week.15 
Keighley Shelter Home, Scott Street, Keighley1906 All classes; temporarily; free from district412-15
St Faith's Rescue and Maternity Home, 126 Chapeltown Road, Leedsby 1915 First cases only.9 
Leeds Hope Hospital, 126 Chapeltown Road, Leeds1919 Venereal cases, both maternity and otherwise. Yorks. cases free; others 5s. a day.17m/10bunder 30
Guardian Society Asylum and General Penitentiary, 14 St James' Street, Leeds1821 Free, or £5 when cases transferred from other institutions.4214-30
Leeds Rescue Home, 18 Brunswick Street, Leeds1893 Fallen women remain two or three weeks and are passed on to long Homes if likely to do well.8under 30
St Margaret's Home, 18 Clarendon Road, Leedsc.1917by 1951First maternity cases; 10s. 6d.  
St Faith's Home, 18 Moorland Road, Leeds1893 Fallen and friendless women; temporarily.10under 30
St Margaret's Home, 18 Mount Preston, Leeds1912c.1917Unmarried mothers and their babies.  
St Faith's Recue Home, 20-21 Brunswick Place, Leeds1893 Fallen and friendless women; temporarily.10under 30
St Faith's Maternity Home, 22 Brunswick Place, Leeds1910 First maternity cases; 5s. and £2 2s. expenses.9under 30
Leeds 'Bethcar' Home, 28 Finsbury Road, Lodge Street, Woodhouse lane, Leedsby 1912 First maternity cases only, prepayment of £5 (being eight weeks' maintenance and doctor's fee, etc.).6under 25
Leeds 'Bethcar' Home, 40 Sunnybank Terrace, Leeds1886 First maternity cases only, prepayment of £5 (being eight weeks' maintenance, and doctor's fee, etc.).6no limit
St Faith's Maternity Home, 63 Clarendon Road, Leedsby 1920 First maternity cases; 7s. 6d. and £2 2s. expenses.22under 30
Leeds Free Church Home, Bethany House, Claypit Lane, Leeds1904 Friendless and fallen women; temporarily; also those on probation.18under 30
Leeds Free Church Council Rescue Home, Brunswick House, 3 Wesley Street, Leedsby 1920 Friendless and fallen women; temporarily.14under 30
Salvation Army Home, Spring Grove House, Alexandra Road, Leeds1909 Girls and women in distress.28m/26 babies 
The Haven of St Giles, 1 Linden Terrace, Pontefractby 1930 Rescue and preventive cases; temporarily.7under 25
The Haven of St Giles, Southgate, Pontefract1915 Friendless women and girls; temporarily.6no limit
Ripon Refuge, 6 Claremont Road, Ripon1927by 1953Shelter and Before and After Care Home.4m/2bno limit
Ripon Refuge, 6 Skell Bank, Ripon1899 Friendless and fallen women; 3s. 6d., when possible.7no limit
Sheffield House of Help and Mission registry, 1, later 17, Paradise Square, Sheffield1886 Young women of Sheffield, needing temporary help; free.18under 30
St Agatha's Hostel, 148 Burngreave Road, Pitsmoor, Sheffieldby 1935  6under 25
Sheffield Female Refuge, 287 Western Bank, Sheffield1858c.1919Fallen women of Sheffield; free. Others by arrangement. Remain two years (longer if necessary).2015-25
Sheffield House of Help, 346 Glossop Road, Sheffieldby 1949 Young women of Sheffield, needing temporary help; free.x 
St Agatha's Hostel, 92 Andover Street, Sheffield1925 All classes; temporarily.6under 25
Corbridge Memorial Home, Kingsley House, 185 Woodside Lane, Pitsmoor, Sheffield1891 Friendless and homeless girls, servants out of situations, girls with unsuitable homes, and orphans12no limit
Salvation Army Home, Newstead, 29 Kenwood Park Road, Sheffield1915 Girls and women in distress.25no limit
Sheffield Rescue and Evangelization Mission, The Haven, 27-29 Havelock Street, Sheffield1891 Inebriates, first offenders and destitute women46no limit
Salvation Army Home, Wincobank Hall, Sheffieldby 19121915Girls and women in distress.39no limit
Ladies' Association Home, 25 Tavora Street, Pinderfields, Wakefield1892 Friendless and destitute girls of lost or doubtful character; temporarily.4no limit
House of Mercy, Dovecote Lane, Horbury, Wakefield1858 Fallen women who have not been in other Homes. Must remain two years. Entrance fee £5, if possible.6015-25