Ancestry UK

Mother and Baby Homes — Shropshire-Sussex

The establishments listed below are believed to have provided at least some accommodation for unmarried mothers and their babies, during at least some of their existence. They include maternity homes, before-and-after-confinement care homes, hostels for pregnant working girls or working mothers, and Irish County Homes. Homes that in their day were labelled Magdalen Homes are listed elsewhere.

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.

Shropshire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Shrewsbury and Shropshire Refuge and Hostel, Chaddeslode, 130 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsburyby 1935 Fallen and friendless girls; also mothers and babies; remain from three to twelve months; from 7s. 6d.8m/8bunder 25
Shrewsbury and Shropshire Refuge and Hostel, Chaddeslode, Crescent Lane, Shrewsbury1907 Fallen and friendless girls; also mothers and babies; remain from three to twelve months; from 7s. 6d.10under 25
Myford House, Horsehay, Wellingtonby 1949 Before and After Care Home.11m/6b 

Somerset

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Hillview, 12 Walcot Parade, Bathby 19531956After Care Home.6m/4b 
Hope House, 15 Lambridge Place, Bath1885 Fallen girls and young women for confinement with first child. Payment, £10 and outfit.9/4 infants 
Braeside, Bugway Lane, Chardby 1964 Before and After Care Home.13m/6b 
Exmoor House, Westerns, Dulvertonby 1949by 1953Before and After Care Home. Married women occasionally admitted.10m.7b 
Somerset County Home for Mothers and Babies, The Old House, South Petherton1921 Unmarried expectant mothers; first cases only; 10s. 6d. From county; others, 12s. 6d.20under 30

Staffordshire

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Broadfield House, Steam Road, Kingswinford, Brierly Hillby 1964 Before and After Care Home.18m/10b 
The Girls' Home, 53 Union Street, Burton upon Trentby 1949 Before and After Care Home.6m/4b 
Mother and Baby Home, 53 Union Street, Burton-on-Trentby 1949 Before and After Care Home.7m/4b 
Lyncroft House, Stafford Road, Lichfieldby 1949by 1953Maternity Home.20m/16b 
North Staffordshire Hostel for Mothers and Babies, 2 Enderley Street, Newcastle under Lymeby 1949by 1956Before and After Care Home.6m/3b 
Astbury House, 27 Little Moor Hill, Smethwickby 19641987Before and After Care Home.13m/6b 
Glentworth Mothercraft Hostel, Rowley Bank, Staffordby 1949 After Care Home.11m/11b 
Mrs Legge Memorial Home, 134 Tettenhall Road, Wolverhamptonby 1964 Before and After Care Home.13m/8b 
Mrs Hay Memorial Home, 36 Merridale Road, Wolverhamptonby 1949 Before and After Care Home.12m/6bunder 20
Mrs Hay Memorial Home, 38 Park Road East, Wolverhamptonby 1964 Before and After Care Home.14m/8b 
Mrs Legge Memorial Home, 89 North Road, Wolverhampton1913 Girls before birth of first illegitimate child. Diocesan cases, 12s. 6d.; others, 15s.12no limit
Mrs Legge Memorial Home, 89 North Road, Wolverhamptonby 1935 Before and After Care Home.12m/12b 

Suffolk

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
St Edmund's Private Maternity Hospital, BurySt Edmunds  Working and professional classes; 5s. for waiting weeks, 7s. 6d. afterwards; 10s. confinement fee.14m/12b16-30
St Bridget's, North Parade, Lowestoftby 1949 Shelter and Before and After Care Home.12m/2b 

Surrey

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Convalescent Home of Rest, 28 Cleveland Road, Barnes  Domestic servants or girls in business (first fall only). From 6s. Weekley.8m/5b15-20
Glazier House, 26 Stretton Road, Croydonby 19491964Hostel for Pregnant Working Girls.9m 
St Aubyn's Shelter, Horsham Road, Dorkingby 1949 Before and After Care Home.10m/3b 
Esher House, 6 Arnison Road, East Molesey19751983Young, single mothers and their babies.  
Richmond Ladies' Association Refuge / Mission House Female Aid Society, Moore House, Paynesfield Avenue, East Sheenby 1912 Fallen women; mothers and babies; temporarily.14no limit
Mothers' Hostel, Waltham House, 28 Worple Road, Epsomby 1918    
Waltham House Hostel, Epsom1915 Mothers of domestic servant class with their babies; 15s. if possible; remain five months. or longer.1616-25
Assisi (St Joseph's) Mother and Baby Home, Hammer Lane, Grayshottby 1949  36m/20b 
Avondale, 9 Sydney Road, Guildfordby 1964 Before and After Care Home.11m/6b 
Home of the Good Shepherd, Haslemere1916 Fallen and friendless girls; temporarily. By 1935: Mothers and babies; remain four months.12m/12bunder 30
Kingston Deanery Home, 18 Richmond Park Road, Kingston upon Thamesby 1935 Maternity and rescue cases; local cases free, others 10s.19m/12bunder 30
Kingston and Surbiton Shelter, 45 Fairfield South, Kingston upon Thamesby 1930 Maternity and rescue cases; temporarily; local cases free, others 10s. 6d. before and 12s. 6d. after confinement.6under 30
Kingston and Surbiton Ladies' Association, Mission House, 26 Gibbon Road, Kingston upon Thames1887 Friendless or fallen girls; local cases only; temporarily.4under 24
Richmond Hostel for Unmarried Mothers and Babies, 1 The Hermitage, Richmond1924 Mothers with their babies; payment according to circumstances.4no limit
Glazier House, 53 Birdhurst Road, South Croydon1964 Hostel for Pregnant Working Girls.9m 
Mission of Hope, Birdhurst Lodge, 14 South Park Hill Road, South Croydonby 1930 Mothers, expectant mothers, infants and toddlers.36m/21bno limit
Mission of Hope, Blythswood, 43 St Peter's Road, South Croydonby 1920 Mothers and babies.30under 30
The Haven, 2 Camden Road, Suttonby 1949 Before and After Care Home.10m/6b 
Sutton Home, Crossways, Benhill Road, Sutton1903 Maternity cases; Diocesan cases, 5s., others, 7s. 6d.15under 26
Emly House, 185 Sidney Road, Walton-on-Thamesby 1964 Before and After Care Home.11m/6bover 16
Emly House, Rydens Avenue, Walton-on-Thamesby 1949 Before and After Care Home.4m/4b 
Haygarth-Witts Memorial Home, 54 The Ridgeway, Wimbledonby 1949 Before and After Care Home.12m/8bover 15
Dorincourt, Elm Road, Woodham Rise, Wokingby 1964 Before and After Care Home.12m/8b 
Woking Preventive and Rescue Home, St Margaret's, 21-23 Ferndale Road, Horsell, Woking1901 Rescue, preventive and maternity cases; also mothers and babies.12m/6bover 17

Sussex

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Albion House, 11 Finsbury Road, Albion Hill, Brightonby 1920by 1953Young unmarried mothers before and after confinement; 10s.40m/36b16-25
Garton House, 22 Stanford Avenue, Brightonby 1964 Before and After Care Home,15m/4b 
Melbourne House, Whitehill Road, Crowborough     
The Bell Hostel, 2 (later 12) Salehurst Road, Eastbourneby 1930 Mothers with their babies; from 20s.14m/16b.under 30
Upwick Vale Rescue Home, Salehurst Street (now Road), Eastbourneby 1897 Lately fallen women, including those awaiting and after confinement; mothers remain with children for six months at 6s. 6d., the infants retained for three years at 3s. 6d.2414-23
Day Servants' Hostel, 21 Seafield Road, Hove1918 Unmarried mothers (with first baby); 25s.9under 30
Seaford House, 1 Prospect Villas, 60 Claremont Road, Seaford