Ancestry UK

Mother and Baby Homes — London E/EC Postal Districts

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.

Name and LocationFounded/OpenedClosed/MovedClasses Received, Weekly fees, etc.PlacesAdmission Age
Poplar Association Home, Bow House, 83 Bow Road, Bow E31924 Unmarried mothers with their babies; payment according to circumstances.9under 30
Salvation Army Knitting Home / Mother and Baby Home, Lanark House, 13 Laura Place, Clapton E51891 Young girls; mostly preventive cases.28no limit
Salvation Army Home, Lorne House No. 2, 126-128 Lower Clapton Road, Clapton E28 February 1945 Girls and women awaiting admission to the Mothers' Hospital.24m/20bno limit
Salvation Army Home, Sapsworth House, 122-124 Lower Clapton Road, Clapton E21926 Girls and women awaiting admission to the Mothers' Hospital. Later Before and After Care Home.28m/19bno limit
Salvation Army Mothers' Hospital, 153-156 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney E519131986All classes of girls and women; payment according to circumstances.75m/70bno limit
Salvation Army Maternity Home, 17-19 Devonshire Road, Hackney E9by 1912By 1930Girls and women awaiting admission to Mothers' Hospital.28m/17bno limit
Salvation Army Rescue /Maternity Home, 183 Amhurst Road, Hackney E81886 Girls and women in distress.Girls and women awaiting admission to Mothers' Hospital.48no limit
Salvation Army Maternity Home, 27-29 Devonshire (now Brenthouse) Road, Hackney E91888 Girls and women awaiting admission to Maternity Hospital.42no limit
Ladies' Association Refuge and Maternity Home House, 6-8 Pembury Road, Hackney E5by 1930 Fallen and friendless girls, and unmarried mothers and their babies.24under 30
Salvation Army Rescue/Maternity Home, Ivy House, 271 Mare Street, Hackney E818931894 36no limit
Salvation Army Maternity Hospital, Ivy House, 271 Mare Street, Hackney E818941913Girls and women with first baby, 10s. 6d. to 21s.; second cases exceptionally received.36no limit
Holborn DeanerySt Faith's Home, 2 Myddleton Square, Holborn EC1by 1935c.1960Mothers and babies; also expectant mothers; those outside the Deanery, 10s.9m/4bunder 30
Holborn Deanery Association Refuge, 2 Myddleton Square, Holborn EC11903 All classes of destitute women; those outside the Deanery, 5s.8m/4bunder 35
St Alban's Diocesan Maternity Home, 40 Cann Hall Road, Leytonstone E111903 Girls expecting a first baby. Diocesan cases 5s. per week.8under 30
Rescue and Maternity Home, Manor Cottage, 33 Sturry Street, East India Dock Road, Poplar E141878 Fallen women; free; maternity cases.12no limit
Commercial Road Refuge, 31 Arbour Square, Commercial Road, Stepney E11884 Fallen girls; not lowest class; a few vacancies for mothers and babies; remain six months; 5s. if possible.9under 20
St Pelagia's Home, Stepney Green, Stepney E11889c.1892Mothers, with their first illegitimate children, after confinement. Remain twelve months, free. Others lately fallen.50no limit
St Agatha's, 73 Carnarvon Road, Stratford E15by 1949 For friendless or destitute girls and young women and babies13m/5b 
Association for Friendless Girls' Refuge, Shirley House, 52 Romford Road, Stratford E151883 Fallen women, A few mothers and babies received.20under 30
Cotland, 11 Springfield, Upper Clapton E51912 Girls and women awaiting admission to the Mothers' Hospital; 7s. 6d.38m/25bno limit
Salvation Army Home, Cotswold, 55/57 Downs Road, Upper Clapton E21925 Girls and women awaiting admission to the Mothers' Hospital.32m/20bno limit
Salvation Army Home, Hope Lodge, 4 The Common, Upper Clapton E21925by 1953Girls and women awaiting admission to the Mothers' Hospital. Later Before and After Care Home.18m/12bno limit