Magdalen Homes — London N/NW 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
West London Mission Home, Winchester House, 23 Ampthill Square, Camden NW1 | 1913 | 1918 | |||
London Female Preventive and Reformatory Institution, 5 Camden Street, Camden Town NW1 | c.1867 | Penitent young women from any part of the United Kingdom; free. | 15-25 | ||
Salvation Army Home for Inebriates / Knitting Home, Grove House, Oldhill Street, Clapton N16 | 1880s | ||||
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, Newbeacon, 79 Crouch End Hill, Crouch End N8 | by 1930 | Fallen and friendless girls temporarily, 5s.; Hornsey cases free. | 12 | under 30 | |
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 | |
Refuge of the Good Shepherd, East Finchley N2 | 1850 | RC penitent women and discharged prisoners; free. | 200 | no limit | |
Home for Girls, Alpha House, 43 Hanley Road, Finsbury Park N4 | 1887 | A shelter, open night and day, for girls wishing to leave a life of sin | |||
Mrs Hampson's Home, Winifred House, 2 Wray Crescent, Tollington Park, Finsbury Park N4 | 1876 | 1888 | |||
Hampstead Shelter, 25 Agincourt Road, Hampstead NW3 | 1901 | Fallen girls and others temporarily, from Hampstead, Highgate, Child's Hill, etc. | 6 | 15-30 | |
25 Agincourt Road, Hampstead NW3 | by 1949 | ||||
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 | |
Hampstead Ruri-Decanal Rescue Association, St Audrey's Home, 10 Lancaster Place, Hampstead NW3 | 1904 | Fallen girls. Local cases free, others from 10s. | 11 | 13-27 | |
Hampstead Ruri-Decanal Rescue Association, St Audrey's Home, 2 St George's Terrace, Regent's Park Road, Hampstead NW3 | 1904 | Fallen girls. Local cases free, others from 5s. | 10 | 13-27 | |
Hampstead Ruri-Decanal Rescue Association, St Audrey's Home, 40 King Henry's Road, Hampstead NW3 | 1904 | Fallen girls. Local cases free, others from 5s. | 11 | 13-27 | |
Quadrant Hostel, 20-22 Highbury Quadrant, Highbury N5 | 1918 | Before and After Care Home (V.D. cases). | 24m/10b | 16-25 | |
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 | |
C.E.T.S. Shelter Home, 59 Leigh Road, Highbury N5 | 1881 | All class; from 10s. 6d. | 14 | 18-45 | |
YWCA Before and After-care Hostel, 9 Aberdeen Park, Highbury N5 | 1919 | Unmarried mothers before and after confinement; from 12s. 6d. | 15 | under 35 | |
Highbury Salvation Army Home, Field View, 17 Highbury Terrace, Highbury N5 | 1894 | Girls and women in distress. | 30 | no limit | |
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 | |
London Diocesan Penitentiary, House of Mercy, Park House, North Hill, Highgate N6 | 1853 | Penitents of all classes received from temporary Refuges, and on personal application, free; must be willing to remain in the Home two years. | 60 | 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 | |
Dressmakers' Home, 1 Freegrove Road, Holloway N7 | by 1890 | ||||
London Female Preventive and Reformatory Institution, 18 Cornwall Place (later 35 Eden Grove), Holloway N7 | 1859 | 35 | 15-25 | ||
St George's Rescue Home, 26 Union Road, Holloway N7 | by 1890 | Girls who wish to leave an evil life. Better class of fallen women penitents. 5s. Or 7s. 6d. a week. | under 35 | ||
West London Mission Maternity Hostel, 35 Parkhurst Road, Holloway N7 | 1923 | Expectant mothers, suffering from V.D.; payment according to circumstances. | 11 | no limit | |
Rescue Society Home, Cuba House, 76 Junction Road, Holloway N19 | by 1890 | ||||
Holloway Refuge, 79 Parkhurst Road, Islington N7 | 1902 | Friendless and fallen, temporarily. Local cases free, | 5 | under 25 | |
St Giles's Christian Mission, 32 Leighton Road, Kentish Town NW5 | by 1890 | Free. | |||
The Home, 1-2 Snowden Villas, Carlton Road, Kilburn NW6 | by 1890 | First time mothers of illegitimate children. Must have a Queen Charlotte's letter. Remain until ready for service; 5s. | |||
Queen Charlotte's Convalescent Home, 20 Victoria Road, Kilburn NW6 | 1882 | Girls having a Queen Charlotte's letter received before and after confinement; 5s. where possible. | 13 | no limit | |
Cambridge Road Home, 41 Cambridge Road, Kilburn NW6 | by 1890 | Women about to become mothers for the first time. Dressmakers and shop girls who have fallen are received. | |||
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 | |
Workhouse Home, 90 Carlton Vale, Kilburn NW6 | by 1897 | Destitute fallen women, previously of good character, who would otherwise be forced to enter the workhouse for their confinement. | 42 | ||
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 | |
St Marylebone Female Protection Society, 157-159 Marylebone Road, Marylebone NW1 | 1838 | Only those of previous good character, before or after confinement; payment of 10l. where possible. | 28 | 14-27 | |
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 | |
Female Temporary Home, 218 Marylebone Road, Marylebone NW1 | by 1890 | The better class of fallen women. Separate apartments for governesses and companions. | 30 | ||
Paddington andSt Marylebone Ladies' Association House of Rest, 39 Earl Street, Lisson Grove, Marylebone NW1 | 1884 | Fallen girls from Paddington andSt Marylebone free; others 5s. | 12 | under 30 | |
St Cyprian's Bethesda, 7 Allsop Mews (now Street), Marylebone NW1 | 1870 | 1896 | |||
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 Catherine's Home, 177 Drummond Street, Regent's Park NW1 | 1897 | Fallen women, all classes. Open all night; free. | 14 | 13-25 | |
St Catherine's Home, 36 Osnaburgh Street, Regent's Park NW1 | by 1912. | Fallen women, all classes. Remain 2 years. Free. | 22 | 13-25 | |
Regent's Park Hostel, 62 Regent's Park Road, Regent's Park NW1 | 1919 | Non-pregnant girls or women suffering from V. D. Payment according to circumstances. | 14 | over 14 | |
St Margaret's Home, 71 William Street, Albany Street, Regent's Park NW1 | 1888 | Fallen women wishing to return to a respectable life. 5s. per week. If admitted before confinement, must bring in-patient's letter for Queen Charlotte's Hospital. Friends must arrange to take charge of the child when a fortnight old. | 21 | ||
Home of the Guardian Angels, 15 Marlborough Place, St John's Wood NW8 | c.1911 | First fall cases only, before confinement. | 38 | over 14 | |
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 | |
Female Mission to the Fallen Refuge, Anchorage Mission House, 10 Loudoun Road, St John's Wood NW8 | by 1890 | Fallen girls free from London Refuges. Payment according to circumstances from other sources. | |||
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 | |
London Female Preventive and Reformatory Institution, 200 Euston Road, St Pancras NW1 | 1858 | Penitent young women from any part of the United Kingdom; free. | 24 | 15-25 | |
London Female Preventive and Reformatory Institution, 26 Fitzroy Place, St Pancras NW1 | 1868 | 15-25 | |||
London Female Preventive and Reformatory Institution, 26 Grafton Place, Euston Square, St Pancras NW1 | 1857 | dem 1903 | Free. | ||
Home of the Guardian Angels, 90 Charlotte Street, St Pancras NW8 | 1902 | First fall cases only, before confinement. | 25 | over 14 | |
Salvation Army Laundry Home, 14-16 Maury Road, Stoke Newington N16 | 1891 | Girls and women in distress. | 21 | 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 | |
London Female Guardian Society's Home, 191 High Street, Stoke Newington N16 | 1888 | Rescue and preventive cases; from any part of U.K.; free. | 86 | under 30 | |
Rescue Society Home, 48 Church Street, Stoke Newington N16 | 1853 | 20 | |||
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 Maternity Home, Lorne House No.1, 16 Rectory Road, Stoke Newington N16 | 1909 | Girls awaiting admission to Maternity Hospital. | 12 | no limit | |
London Female Penitentiary / Girls' Training Home, Stamford House, 191 High Street, Stoke Newington N16 | by 1884 | Free, on personal application to ladies' committee, Wednesdays, at twelve o'clock, or to matron any day between 9 and 4. | 80 | 16-30 | |
Hornsey Deanery Refuge, Beacon Lodge, 109 Upper Tollington Park, Stroud Green N4 | 1909 | Fallen and friendless girls temporarily, 5s.; Hornsey cases free. | 5 | under 30 | |
Holloway Refuge, 24 Pemberton Gardens, Upper Holloway N19 | by 1920 | Friendless and fallen, temporarily; Deanery cases free, others 10s. | 3 | no limit | |
St James' Home, Whetstone N20 | 1857 | 1871 | For females with superior eductaion and social standng. | 20 | |
St Mary's Shelter, 34 Craven Park, Willesden NW10 | 1908 | Fallen and friendless girls; maternity cases temporarily. Payment according to circumstances. | 10 | 14-30 | |
London Female Penitentiary, 166 Pentonville Road, London N1 | 1807 |
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