Magdalen Homes — N Ireland
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.
Co. Antrim
| Name and Location | Founded/ | Closed/ | Classes Received, Weekly fees, etc. | Places | Admission Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulster Female Penitentiary, 14 Brunswick Street, Belfast | by 1884 | Penitent victims of seduction. No proper applicant refused (expected to remain two years). | 30 | 15-20 | |
| Edgar Home, 14 Brunswick Street, Belfast | by 1897 | Fallen women. Remain two years. Free. | 60 | 15-20 | |
| Belfast Midnight Mission Maternity Home, 25-27 (later 29) Malone Place, Belfast | 1902 | First maternity cases only received. 5s. | 12 | ||
| Belfast Midnight Mission, 29-31 Malone Place, Belfast | 1864 | Fallen women. A temporary refuge from which they are drafted to Homes. Free. | 20 | no limit | |
| House of Mercy, 37 Crumlin Road, Belfast | 1890 | ||||
| St Mary's, 511 Ormeau Road, Belfast | 22 | ||||
| Salvation Army Home for Girls, 63 Great George Street, Belfast | by 1890 | Free. | |||
| Ulster Magdalene Asylum, Donegall Pass, Belfast | 1849 | Penitent fallen women. Remain two years. Free. | 30 | under 25 | |
| Jackson Hall Home, Newtownards Road, Ballymacarret, Belfast | 1849 | Free. Free. | 30 | under 25 | |
| Salvation Army Refuge, Thorndale, Duncairn Avenue, Antrim Road, Belfast | 1905 | Girls and women in distress. | 27 | no limit | |
| Salvation Army Home, Thorndale, Duncairn Avenue, Antrim Road, Belfast | 1905 | Unmarried mothers and their babies. Free. | 33m/24 babies | no limit | |
| Salvation Army Night Shelter, Thorndale, Duncairn Avenue, Antrim Road, Belfast | 1923 | Homeless women. | 30 | no limit | |
| Salvation Army Home, Wellington Park House, Malone Road, Belfast | 1905 | Girls and women in distress. | |||
| Salvation Army Home, Wellington Park House, Malone Road, Belfast | 1905 | Girls and women in distress. Free. | 33 | no limit | |
| Edgar Home, Whitehall, Sunnyside Road, Ormeau Road, Belfast | by 1912 | Fallen women. Remain two years. Free. | 60 | 15-20 |
Co. Down
| Name and Location | Founded/ | Closed/ | Classes Received, Weekly fees, etc. | Places | Admission Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good Shepherd Home, 132 Armagh Road, Newry | 15 |
Co. Londonderry
| Name and Location | Founded/ | Closed/ | Classes Received, Weekly fees, etc. | Places | Admission Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Londonderry and North-West Ulster Female Penitentiary, 24 Hawkin Street, Londonderry | 1829 | Fallen women. | 22 | no limit |
Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.
