Magdalen Homes — London E/EC Postal Districts
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.
Name and Location | Founded/ | Closed/ | Classes Received, Weekly fees, etc. | Places | Admission Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jewish Association Home for the Protection of Girls and Women, 45 Great Prescott Street (now Prescot Street), Aldgate E1 | 1928 | Emergency cases of women and girls in distress. | 6 | no limit | |
British Penitent Female Refuge, 10 North Side of Bethnal Green, Bethnal Green E2 | 1829 | 1842 | |||
Guardian Asylum, 21 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green E2 | 1812 | Fallen women; free. | 40 | 16-22 | |
Association Home / The Refuge, 4 The Terrace, Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green E2 | 1906 | All classes. Local cases free; others 5s. | 6 | no limit | |
Speedwell Club, 4 The Terrace, Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green E2 | 1923 | Girls and women needing help. | 12 | under 25 | |
British Penitent Female Refuge, Andrews Road, Cambridge Heath, Bethnal Green E2 | 1842 | c.1875 | |||
Poplar Association Home, Bow House, 83 Bow Road, Bow E3 | 1924 | Unmarried mothers with their babies; payment according to circumstances. | 9 | under 30 | |
Tower Hamlets Association for Rescue and Preventive Work, The Red Lamp, 137 Bow Road, Bow E3 | by 1912 | Friendless or fallen; temporarily; free to East End cases. | 8 | under 26 | |
Tower Hamlets Association for Rescue and Preventive Work, The Red Lamp, 20 King Street, Tower Hill, Bow EC3 | 1889 | Fallen and friendless; temporarily; free. | 8 | under 26 | |
Friends' Rescue Home, 10 Laura Place, Clapton E5 | 1890 | Fallen women; remain about twelve months; free. Preventive cases preferred. | 15 | under 23 | |
Salvation Army Rescue Home / Knitting Home / Training Institution, 122 Lower Clapton Road, Clapton E5 | 1900 | ||||
Salvation Army Knitting Home / Mother and Baby Home, Lanark House, 13 Laura Place, Clapton E5 | 1891 | Young girls; mostly preventive cases. | 28 | no limit | |
Salvation Army Home, Lorne House No. 2, 126-128 Lower Clapton Road, Clapton E2 | 8 February 1945 | Girls and women awaiting admission to the Mothers' Hospital. | 24m/20b | no limit | |
Rescue Society Home, Ashburnham House, 98 Shacklewell Lane, Dalston E8 | 1853 | The fallen; free; remain twelve months as a rule. | 28 | 14-25 | |
Islington and Dalston Ladies' Association, Bishop Billing Memorial Mission House, 160 Dalston Lane, Dalston E8 | 1881 | Fallen; temporary refuge. | 15 | under 30 | |
Stratford Refuge, 15 Disraeli Road, Forest Gate E7 | by 1912 | Fallen women from the Diocese, temporarily; free. | 8 | no limit | |
Ladies' Association Mission House, 12 Sparstow Road, Hackney E5 | 1896 | A temporary Refuge for fallen and friendless women. | 4 | no limit | |
Salvation Army Mothers' Hospital, 153-156 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney E5 | 1913 | 1986 | All classes of girls and women; payment according to circumstances. | 75m/70b | no limit |
Salvation Army Maternity Home, 17-19 Devonshire Road, Hackney E9 | by 1912 | By 1930 | Girls and women awaiting admission to Mothers' Hospital. | 28m/17b | no limit |
Salvation Army Rescue /Maternity Home, 183 Amhurst Road, Hackney E8 | 1886 | Girls and women in distress.Girls and women awaiting admission to Mothers' Hospital. | 48 | no limit | |
Shelter for Girls, 2 Kenmure Road, Hackney E8 | 1884 | Fallen women temporarily. | |||
Salvation Army Receiving Home, 259 Mare Street, Hackney E8 | 1884 | Girls and women in distress. | 29 | no limit | |
Salvation Army Maternity Home, 27-29 Devonshire (now Brenthouse) Road, Hackney E9 | 1888 | Girls and women awaiting admission to Maternity Hospital. | 42 | no limit | |
Ladies' Association Mission House / Hackney & Stoke Newington Refuge, 6 Pembury Road, Hackney E5 | by 1912 | Fallen and friendless girls, temporarily. | 6 | under 30 | |
Ladies' Association Refuge and Maternity Home House, 6-8 Pembury Road, Hackney E5 | by 1930 | Fallen and friendless girls, and unmarried mothers and their babies. | 24 | under 30 | |
Good Shepherd Mission House, Goldsmith's Row, Hackney Road, Hackney E2 | 1890 | Fallen and friendless young women, temporarily. | 10 | no limit | |
Salvation Army Rescue/Maternity Home, Ivy House, 271 Mare Street, Hackney E8 | 1893 | 1894 | 36 | no limit | |
Salvation Army Maternity Hospital, Ivy House, 271 Mare Street, Hackney E8 | 1894 | 1913 | Girls and women with first baby, 10s. 6d. to 21s.; second cases exceptionally received. | 36 | no limit |
Holborn DeanerySt Faith's Home, 2 Myddleton Square, Holborn EC1 | by 1935 | c.1960 | Mothers and babies; also expectant mothers; those outside the Deanery, 10s. | 9m/4b | under 30 |
Holborn Deanery Association Refuge, 2 Myddleton Square, Holborn EC1 | 1903 | All classes of destitute women; those outside the Deanery, 5s. | 8m/4b | under 35 | |
St Pelagia's Home, Etloe House, 180 Church Road, Leyton E5 | 1884 | Fallen women; free; remain two years. Prison cases received. | 80 | under 30 | |
St Alban's Diocesan Maternity Home, 40 Cann Hall Road, Leytonstone E11 | 1903 | Girls expecting a first baby. Diocesan cases 5s. per week. | 8 | under 30 | |
St Pelagia's Home, 1-2 Church Row (now Newell Street), Commercial Road, Limehouse E14 | 1884 | Penitent fallen women, or those in great danger from evil surroundings. | 80 | under 30 | |
Rescue Home, Mitre House, 8 Three Colt Street, Limehouse E14 | 1886 | 6s. Per week. | 13-17 | ||
Rescue Society Temporary Home, 79 Finsbury Pavement, Moorgate EC2 | by 1890 | ||||
South West Ham Women's Shelter, 272 Barking Road, Plaistow E13 | 1897 | Fallen and friendless girls, temporarily. 3s.6d. if possible. | under 30 | ||
St Faith's Shelter, 65 Balaam Street, Plaistow E13 | by 1912 | Girls of servant class; 5s. To 7s. | 6 | no limit | |
Manor Cottage, 4 Kerbey Street, Poplar E14 | 1878 | To assist helpless and fallen women to a new start in life. | |||
All Hallows' Shelter, 47 Aberfeldy Street, Poplar E14 | by 1912 | Preventive and fallen cases; free; temporarily. | 3 | no limit | |
All Hallows' Shelter, 47 Athol Street, Abbott Road, Poplar E14 | 1887 | Fallen girls; free; temporarily. | 3 | under 20 | |
All Hallows' Shelter, 47 Dunkeld Street, Abbott Road, Poplar E14 | by 1897 | Fallen girls; free; temporarily. | 3 | under 20 | |
Rescue and Maternity Home, Manor Cottage, 33 Sturry Street, East India Dock Road, Poplar E14 | 1878 | Fallen women; free; maternity cases. | 12 | no limit | |
Tower Hamlets / Stepney Hostel, 43 Hardinge Street, Commercial Road, Shadwell E1 | 1926 | All classes of women and girls needing help; temporarily. | 9 | 16-35 | |
Providence Row Night Refuge, 50 Crispin Street, Spitalfields E1 | 1860 | All classes of destitute women. Those who are fallen sent to Convent of Good Shepherd if willing. | 300 | no limit | |
Temporary Hostel, Jubilee House, 9 Elder Street, Spitalfields E1 | by 1939 | Emergency hostel for girls stranded or in trouble. | 15-30 | ||
Bridge of Hope Mission Refuge, 27 Princes Square, St George in the East E1 | 1879 | Friendless and fallen. A temporary refuge provided until a suitable home can be found. | 20 | no limit | |
Bridge of Hope Mission Refuge, 28 Betts Street, St George in the East E1 | by 1900 | Destitute, friendless, and in moral danger; 3s. 6d. to 6s.; local cases free. | 20 | no limit | |
Bridge of Hope Traning Home, 38 Betts Street, St George in the East E1 | 1879 | Fallen; free; generally remain a year. | 52 | 16-22 | |
Temporary Refuge, 29 Stepney Green, Stepney E1 | by 1890 | Free. | |||
Commercial Road Refuge, 31 Arbour Square, Commercial Road, Stepney E1 | 1884 | Fallen girls; not lowest class; a few vacancies for mothers and babies; remain six months; 5s. if possible. | 9 | under 20 | |
Rescue Home for Working Girls, 31 Mile End Road, Stepney E1 | by 1890 | ||||
The Refuge Home, 33 Mile End Road, Stepney E1 | 1887 | Free for fallen women under 20 of the lowest class, | 13 | under 20 | |
Harlow House, 34 Mile End Road, Stepney E1 | by 1890 | Free. | |||
St Pelagia's Home, Stepney Green, Stepney E1 | 1889 | c.1892 | Mothers, with their first illegitimate children, after confinement. Remain twelve months, free. Others lately fallen. | 50 | no limit |
Leytonstone Shelter, 5 Vicarage Lane, Stratford E15 | 1899 | Friendless or fallen girls; temporarily; payment by arrangement. | 3 | no limit | |
St Agatha's Refuge, 98 Romford Road, Stratford E15 | by 1935 | Friendless or fallen girls; temporarily; payment by arrangement. | 9 | no limit | |
Rescue Society Home, Ely House, Carnarvon Road, Stratford E15 | by 1897 | The fallen; free; remain 3-12 months. A few maternity cases received. | 28 | under 20 | |
St John's Refuge, Linden House, Stratford Green, Stratford E15 | 1884 | To receive fallen girls and young women for a short period before passing them on to Homes, penitentiaries, or to service. | |||
Association for Friendless Girls' Refuge, Shirley House, 52 Romford Road, Stratford E15 | 1883 | Fallen women, A few mothers and babies received. | 20 | under 30 | |
St Mary of Egypt's Home, Water Lane, Stratford E15 | 1875 | The most outcast and destitute women of the fallen class. | 12 | no limit | |
Asylum of the Good Shepherd, Hermon Hill, Wanstead E11 | 1921 | 1937 | Girls and women for reformation | 200 | 15-55 |
Magdalen House, 21 Prescot Street, Whitechapel E1 | 1758 | 1772 |
Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.