Ancestry UK

Magdalen Homes — Middlesex-Oxfordshire

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.

Middlesex

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Barnes Convalescent Home, 15 Beverley Gardens, Barnes Common1893 First fall cases ineligible for other Convalescent Homes, 6s.; mother and baby, 7s. 6d.5 
Ealing Shelter, 35 Windsor Road, Ealingby 1930 Fallen and preventive cases; temporarily; Deanery cases, free.10under 30
Ealing Shelter, 96 Haven Lane, Ealing1900 Fallen and preventive cases; temporarily free.6under 30
Enfield Ruri-decenal Association for Care of Friendless Girls Refuge, 100 Hertford Road, Edmonton1903 Fallen women and girls. Local cases free; others 5s. Preventive cases taken.5under 30
Rescue Society Home, Almond House, Upper Fore Street, Edmontonby 1890    
The Shelter, 38 Albert Road, Hounslowby 1920 Fallen women; free for Deanery cases; 5s. per week for others.2under 30
Isleworth Shelter, 131 Hortham Road, Isleworthby 1912 Fallen women; 5s.; local cases free.2under 30
Maddison Memorial Hostel, Maddison Lodge, Osterley, Isleworth1926 Mothers and babies; remain until babies two years old.18under 30
St Faith's Children's Home, 11 Gloucester Road, Teddington1910 Children who have been criminally assaulted or from immoral surroundings; 6s. when possible.155-10
St Catherine's, 139 Church Road, Upper Teddingtonby 1912 Rescue and preventive cases, 5s.; temporarily.4no limit
St Anne's Laundry Home, Trout Road, Yiewsley1901 Girls morally weak and unfit for service; 4s.; remain two years.22over 16

Norfolk

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
House of Mercy, Ditchingham, Bungay1854 Fallen girls and those from evil surroundings, with full knowledge of evil, though not actually fallen.3015-25
The Refuge, Hope Cottage, Great Yarmouth1884 Fallen girls of Yarmouth; free, if destitute.416-20
Shelter for Fallen Girls, St Nicholas' Mission House, Great Yarmouth1884 Fallen girls of Yarmouth; temporarily; free, if destitute.416-20
Norwich Mission Shelter, 191 Dereham Road, Norwich1901 Fallen women; temporarily; and maternity cases.5no limit
Norwich Female Mission Home, 1 St Stephen Square, Norwich1877  615-25
St Augustine's Lodge, 30 Surrey Street, Norwich1872 Fallen women; temporarily; Norwich or destitute cases free; others, a guinea entrance fee.13under 25
Norwich Refuge, 53 Botolph Street, Norwichby 1900 Fallen women; temporarily: Norwich or destitute cases, free; others a guinea entrance fee.13under 25
Norwich Diocesan Maternity Home, 53-55 Surrey Street, Norwich1921 First pre-maternity cases; 7s. and maternity benefit. Remain six months after child's birth.12under 25
Norwich Mission Shelter, 61 Carnarvon Road, Norwichby 1920 Girls and young women out of situations; temporarily.5no limit
Rescue Hospital, Carnarvon Road, Norwich1871 Lock cases only, prepared for admission to Homes. Destitute cases free.  
Greyfriars Refuge, King's Street, Norwich1886    
Norwich Diocesan Shelter, St Augustine's Lodge, 21 Lady's Lane, Norwichby 1935 Any girl needing help; payment according to circumstances.9no limit
Norwich Refuge, St Augustine's Lodge, 62 Pitt Street, Norwichby 1897 Fallen women; temporarily: Norwich or destitute cases, free; others a guinea entrance fee.13under 25
Norfolk and Norwich Magdalen or Female Home, York Villa, 83 Chapel Field Road, Norwich1827 Fallen women and preventive cases; free from the county; remain one year.1315-25

Northamptonshire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
St Saviour's Home, 21/21A/23A Manor Road, Kingsthorpe, Northampton1921 Maternity cases; from the Diocese 8s.; others 12s.15m/15nunder 25
Northampton Refuge, 29 Newland Terrace, Northamptonby 1920 Fallen and friendless girls and women; local cases free.11no limit
Northampton Refuge, 3 St Katherine's Terrace, Northamptonby 1912 Fallen and friendless girls and women; local cases free.4no limit
Northampton Refuge /St Faith's Home, 9/10 St George's Avenue, Northamptonby 1930 Girls needing help; from 5s.10under 25
Church Army Refuge, 10 Crawthorne Road, Peterborough1904 Friendless and fallen from locality; temporarily1no limit

Northumberland

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Newcastle Diocesan House of Mercy, 305 Salter's Road, Gosforthc.18941941Fallen women from diocese free; others on payment; remain two years.3614-20
Wilberforce Diocesan House of Refuge, 124 Westmoreland Road, Newcastle upon Tyne19032928Fallen women; temporarily; free.8no limit
Wilberforce Diocesan House of Refuge, 41-43 Jesmond Road, Newcastle upon Tyne1918by 1935Fallen women; temporarily; free.13no limit
Temporary Home and Free Registry Office, 6 Ravensworth Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne1883    
Convent of the Good Shepherd, Benton Grange, Benton Park Road, South Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne1888 Penitents and young girls in dangerous surroundings.180 
Newcastle Diocesan Refuge, Clifton House, 54 Clifton Road, Newcastle upon Tyneby 1935by 1953Preventive and rescue cases; temporarily; diocesan cases free.14under 35
Wansbeck Home, Diana Street, Newcastle upon Tyne1831By 1897For northern counties. Free when necessary. Must be willing to remain two years.40no limit
Salvation Army Home, Marlborough House, 65 Osborne Road, Newcastle upon Tyne1889 Girls and women in distress.34no limit
Rescue Home, Wansbeck House, Elswick Road, Newcastle upon Tyneby 1890 Fallen women from northern counties; free; remain two years.22under 28

Nottinghamshire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Mansfield Deanery Shelter, 12 Gladstone Street, Mansfield1913 Fallen girls of servant class; temporarily; payment when possible.3over 14
St Catherine's House, 15 Wilson Street, Newarkby 1930 Fallen and preventive cases; temporarily; 10s.; free from Deanery.6no limit
Newark Shelter, 55 Victoria Street, Newark1913 Fallen and preventive cases; temporarily; 9s.; free from Deanery.5no limit
Nottingham Shelter, 16 Gorsey Road, Nottinghamby 1949 Women and girls needing help; free.  
Nottingham House of Refuge, 28 Chaucer Street, Nottingham1837 Fallen women; free. Remain two years.3016-30
Nottingham Shelter, 32 Cranmer Street, Nottinghamby 1935 Women and girls needing help; free.2no limit
Nottingham Shelter, 49A Leen Side, Nottingham1924 Women and girls needing help; free.2no limit
Nottingham Preventive Home, Hope Lodge, 35 Heskey Street, Nottingham1885  1013-18
Nottingham Temporary Rescue and Preventive Home / Training and Moral Welfare Centre, Southwell House, 16 Newstead Grove, Nottinghamby 1912 Fallen girls, preventive, Probation Act and prison cases from Nottingham, free; others, 5s.; temporarily.1313-25
Nottingham Temporary Rescue Home, Southwell House, North Street, Nottinghamby 1890 Fallen girls, preventive, Probation Act and prison cases from Nottingham, free; others, 5s.; temporarily.  
Nottingham Temporary Rescue Home, Southwell House,St John's Street, Nottinghamby 1895 Fallen girls from Nottingham, free; others 3s.; temporarily.  
Nottingham Temporary Rescue and Preventive Home, The Cottage, Newstead Grove, Nottingham1919 Mothers and babies; first fall.3under 25
Retford Shelter, 33 Victoria Road, Retford1919 Friendless and fallen; temporarily; deanery cases free. no limit
St Mary's Home, 13 Queen Street, Worksop1916 Friendless and fallen girls and women.7no limit
Worksop Shelter, 27 George Street, Worksop1925 Rescue and preventive cases; temporarily. no limit

Oxfordshire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Oxford House of Refuge, Floyd's Row,St Aldates, Oxford18751939Fallen women; free; temporarily.12no limit
Oxford Ladies' Association, Hope Cottage, 57 Aston Street, Oxford1899 Mothers with their babies; first cases; 5s. diocesan cases; 7s. 6d. others.3under 25
Oxford Female Penitentiary, Manor House, Holywell Street, Oxford1852 Fallen women; a year if possible; remain not less than two years.58no limit
Oxford Ladies' Association, St Frideswide's Home, 59 St John's Road, Oxford19011920Mothers with their babies; first cases; 5s. diocesan cases; 7s. 6d. others.8under 25
Oxford Female Penitentiary, St Mary's House, Lawn Upton, Sandford Road, Littlemore, Oxford19291949Fallen women. Remain not less than two years.5817-35