Dalbeth Magdalene Institution for Roman Catholic Girls, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland
In 1851, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd opened the Magdalene Institution, or 'House of Refuge', in part of their convent at London Road, Dalbeth, about two miles to the south-east of central Glasgow. In its first eighteen years of operation, the building, originally erected for use as a college, could house between twenty and thirty 'penitents'. In 1868, larger premises were built at the site, funded by subscriptions and donations, to accommodate 150 inmates. As well as the Magdalene Institution, part of the site also housed an Industrial School for Roman Catholic Girls.
In its early years, the Magdalen Institution generated a modest income from needlework and the profits of a small farm. In 1879, the need to provide a larger income led to the construction of a large laundry. By 1900, the institution could house up to 150 girls and young women aged from 15 to 30 years. At that date, other occupations for the girls included farm and garden work, bread making and baking, knitting, crochet work and toy making. In 1912, the capacity of the home had increased to 226 places. Inmates were expected to remain two or three years.
The Institution site is shown on the 1893 map below.
Dalbeth Magdalene Institution site, Glasgow, c.1893.
The Good Shepherd Sisters left Dalbeth in 1949 and moved to a new site at Old Bishopton, Renfrewshire.
The Dalbeth premises no longer exist but part of the Old Bishopton building still survives.
Records
Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.
- No information at present.
Census
Bibliography
- Carpenter, Mary Reformatory Schools, for the Children of the Perishing and Dangerous Classes, and for Juvenile Offenders (1851, General Books; various reprints available)
- Carlebach, Julius Caring for Children in Trouble (1970, Routledge & Kegan Paul)
- Higginbotham, Peter Children's Homes: A History of Institutional Care for Britain's Young (2017, Pen & Sword)
- Abel Smith, Doroth Crouchfield: A History of the Herts Training School 1857-1982 (2008, Able Publishing)
- Garnett, Emmeline Juvenile offenders in Victorian Lancashire: W J Garnnett and the Bleasdale Reformatory (2008, Regional Heritage Centre, Lancaster University)
- Hicks, J.D. The Yorkshire Catholic Reformatory, Market Weighton (1996, East Yorkshire Local History Society)
- Slocombe, Ivor Wiltshire Reformatory for Boys, Warminster, 1856-1924 (2005, Hobnob Press)
- Duckworth, J.S. The Hardwicke Reformatory School, Gloucestershire (in Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, 1995, Vol. 113, 151-165)
Links
- None identified at present.
Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.
