Ancestry UK

Magdalen Homes — Scotland

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.

Aberdeenshire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Seabank Rescue Home, 684 King Street, Aberdeen18711921   
Home for the Rescue of Fallen Females, Holburn Street, Aberdeen18621871   
Aberdeen Town and County Vigilance Association, The Shelter, 52½ Chapel Street, Aberdeenby 1935 Rescue and preventive cases; temporarily.7no limit

Angus (Forfarshire)

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Dundee and District Female Rescue Home, 18 Cobden Street, Lochee, Dundeeby 1897 Fallen girls, or those in danger; remain 18 months.4015-20
Dundee and District Female Rescue Home, 18 Union Place, Lochee Road, Dundee1876 Fallen girls, or those in danger; remain 18 months.40under 20
The Home, 202 Ferry Road, Dundeeby 1930 Fallen, and inebriate women; free; remain two years.2715-25
The Home, 35 Paton's Lane, Dundee1848 Friendless, fallen, and inebriates; free; remain two years.3018-35
St Ronan's Shelter, Dalkeith Road, Dundee19251973Preventive and rescue cases; free.10over 14
Salvation Army Home, Florence Booth House, Clement Park, HarefieldRoad, Lochee, Dundee19281970Unmarried mothers with their infants.40m/28 babiesno limit
Salvation Army Home, Seafield Lodge, Magdalen Green, Dundee19181927Girls and women in distress.24m/8bno limit
Salvation Army Home, Cidhmore, 488 Perth Road, Dundee19281929Girls and women in distress.  
Salvation Army Home / Metropole, Ward Road, Dundee1900 Girls and women in distress.53no limit

Lanarkshire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Atholl House Hostel, 11 Burnbank Gardens, Glasgow1925 All classes of women and girls needing help. no limit
Church of Scotland Receiving Home, 12 Canning Place, Glasgow1913 Fallen women; free.16no limit
Church of Scotland Receiving Home, 13 Canning Place, Glasgow1913 Women from lodging-houses; free.16no limit
Magdalene Institution, 17 Stirling Road, Glasgow1860    
St Mary's Rescue Home, 177 Hill Street, Garnet Hill, Glasgow1900 Fallen women, mostly from the lowest parts of the city; free.1014-25
Home for Deserted Mothers, 2 Queen's Terrace, Glasgowby 1930    
Salvation Army Receiving Home, 207 High Street, Glasgow1896 Girls and women in distress.153no limit
Salvation Army Receiving Home and Metropole, 207 High Street, Glasgowby 1920 Girls and women in distress; and homeless women.153no limit
Salvation Army Metropole, 207 High Street, Glasgowby 1930 Homeless women.135no limit
St Gerard's Home, 218 Renfrew Street, Glasgow1928 Unmarried expectant mothers; (first child only).30no limit
Church of Scotland Maternity Home, 22 Herbert Street, Glasgow19151923Expectant mothers; 6s.8under 30
Magdalene Asylum, 286 Parliamentary Road, Glasgow, Glasgow1860    
Church of Scotland Home, Auldhousefield, Pollokshaws, Glasgow1908 Mothers and infants; 5s.36no limit
Church of Scotland Maternity Home, 39 Lansdowne Crescent, Glasgow19241943Expectant mothers; 7s.12under 30
Church of Scotland Maternity Home, 68 St Andrew's Drive, Glasgow19441957Expectant mothers;  
Salvation Army Home, 5 St Vincent Place, Glasgow1889 Girls and women in distress.  
Salvation Army Home, Ardenshaw, 45 St Andrew's Drive, Pollokshields, Glasgow1889 Girls and women in distress.36no limit
Salvation Army Home, Homeland, 25 St Andrew's Drive, Pollokshields, Glasgow19201936Unmarried mothers with their babies.22no limit
Magadalene Institution / Industrial Home, Lochburn, Maryhill, Glasgow19 October 1867 Fallen women; free from the city and neighbourhood.  
Dalbeth Magdalene Institution, London Road, Dalbeth, Glasgow1851 Young girls and women.22615-30
Magdalene Institution, Parson Street, Glasgow1860    
Glasgow Magadalene Institution, Probationary Home, 266-268 Cathedral Street, Glasgow1859 Fallen women; free from the city and neighbourhood.50under 30

Midlothian

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
St Andrew's Home, Duddingstoneby 1890 Fallen women; free.29 
Home for Mothers and Babies, 17 Claremont Park, Edinburgh19241970sUnmarried expectant mothers (first child only); must be willing to remain three or four months after confinement; 10s; or by arrangement.12m/9 babiesunder 25
Edinburgh Rescue Shelter, 18 (later 18-19) Graham Street, Edinburgh1895 Fallen girls; temporarily; free.20no limit
Edinburgh Rescue Shelter, 18 Dean Terrace, Edinburgh1920 Fallen girls; temporarily; free.12no limit
Falconer Rescue Home, 18 St John's Hill, Edinburgh1860 Fallen women.30no limit
Springwell House Rescue Home, 27 Ardmillan Terrace, Edinburgh1877 Fallen girls; free. Admitted temporarily and drafted to Homes.12under 30
Springwell House Rescue Home, 7 Henderson Terrace, Dalry Road, Edinburgh1877 Fallen girls; free. Admitted temporarily and drafted to Homes.12under 30
Edinburgh Industrial Home, Alnwick Hill, Liberton, Edinburgh1856 Fallen women; free.36no limit
Edinburgh Laundry Home, Alnwick Hill, Liberton, Edinburgh1856 Female offenders; free; remain eighteen months.4016-24
Salvation Army Home, Bonnington Bank House, Ferry Road, Edinburgh19201947Unmarried mothers with their babies.22 
Church of Scotland Home, Denhamgreen House, Edinburgh1918 Mothers and infants; 5s.40no limit
St Andrew's Home of Mercy, Easter Duddington, Joppa, Edinburgh1858 Fallen girls; free, specially laundry-maids; remain two years.4014-20
Magdalene Institution, Gorgie Road, Edinburgh1797 Fallen women anxious to reform; free; remain two years.126 
Salvation Army Metropole, The Vennel, Grassmarket, Edinburgh1894 Homeless women.105no limit
Heriot Maitland Home, Wellington Street, Portobello, Edinburghby 1900 Fallen women; free.25no limit
Church of Scotland Home, Dalry House, Hawthorn Gardens, Loanhead1923 Girls for training.50under 25

Perthshire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Perth Hostel, 11 Melville Street, Perth1913 Girls in need.1014-25
House of the Good Shepherd, 59 Balhousie Street, Perth1900 Fallen girls (first fall); temporarily.614-20

Renfrewshire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
House of Refuge / Shelter for Females, Ingleston Street, Upper Ingleston, Greenockc.1841 Fallen women; also inebriates under Act.40 
Church of Scotland Rescue Home, Lady Lane, Paisley1880 Fallen women; free.36no limit
Paisley Female Refuge, Victoria Laundry, Lady Lane, Paisley1861 Fallen women; free.20no limit