Homes for Unmarried Mothers Aberdeen

[anne50]

Hi Folks,

I was wondering if anyone knew of homes for unmarried mothers in Aberdeen around 1920.

Cheers

Anne

[ann60]

Hi there was a home for unmarried mothers in Richmond Place off kings gate in aberdeen
do not no when it was build ANN

[anne50]

Hi Ann,

Thanks for that info, it will give me something to go on.

Anne

[still_looking]

I think that may be richmondhill house which is next to richmondhill place off kings gate.

A house is present on early nineteenth century maps but I don't know if it's the same place.

[still_looking]

Checked the Aberdeen directories for every ten years from 1850-1950, no mention of a home for unmarried mothers.

There was a home for the children of widowers, a home for working lads, a home for working girls and a home for mothers and babies.

Richmondhill may be a red herring as I couldn't see any explicit mention of it as other than as a domestic residence.

[ann60]

i found out there was a home for girls in seaton   there  was also a children home in union grove  run by nuns  . just an idea

[anne50]

Thanks Ann and Still,

I think this will be my job this afternoon. Thanks for all the info

Anne

[ann60]

can you tell me more about the home for children of widowers please  and can anyone tell me why children were boarded out to families  miles away from where they were born . my grandfather was b
 :

Dorn in larbert  scotland  his mother died and 3 yers later he was boarded to a family ln new aberdour

[anne50]

Hi Ann,

I really don't know the answer. My dad was the same. His mother died when he was 2 and his gran died when he was 5. He was illigitimate, so there was no father to look after him. His grandfather was actually a step grandfather, so i presume he did'nt want the responsibility of looking after a 5 year old. He then was boarded out to a family in Alford, where he stayed until he left school at 14years old. This all happened in 1925.
 
I have just recently aquired the notes on him from the City Archives in Aberdeen, but it just states that he was a "boarded" out child. The family he stayed with, were paid 7shillings a week plus clothing.

Anne