Oakhill Home, institution, Salford

[joanne56]

Not sure where to post this question but does anyone know what kind of institution "OAKHILL HOME" GEORGE STREET, BROUGHTON, SALFORD, LANCASHIRE. was ?
I have a relly in there in 1901 and with the exception of a couple of six month old babies, all the inmates are women, of all ages, I might add. All the attendants or officers are also women. There are Captains and Leiutenents, which makes it sound very much like a Prison but I did wonder about the Savation Army too, any guidance here much appreciated.

Joanne.

[skb]

Several of the houses in this street were children's homes run by the Manchester Boys and Girls Refuge, so I would think it was some sort of charitable institution perhaps for "fallen women".

Many of the children were sent to Canada under the British Home Children scheme.

You could try Barnardo's, who have all the information for these children's homes.

[Su]

Hi Joanne
Oakhill 1898 - 1938, was known as a Training Home run by the Salvation Army for homeless, and 'fallen' women.

It was bequeathed to the Salvation Army (hence Captains and Lieutenents) by the widow of the Manchester Evangelist and Engineer Frank Crossley and was quite an impressive building, the laundry section was in some outbuildings but the trainees had use of the main house after work and some helped the Officers with caring for the other women who used the centre.

Some women went there after being released from prison for prostitution and alcoholism.

In the early 1900s the overall superintendent for the social wing was a lady called Eleanor Crick, a Major in the Salvation Army.

Hope this helps
Kind regards
Su

[joanne56]

Yes it does help and I would love to know where you found this information ?  I also wonder if any records of inmates were kept or if they still exist. I don't suppose you would know about that too by any chance?

Joanne

[Su]

Hi Joanne

Yes they do keep the records.  I will PM you with an email address to contact.

Kind regards
Su

[route66]

Joanne,
I am also trying to find info on Oakhill Home,  my grandmother who was unmarried in the 1920's gave birth to my father who was then adopted by a couple who were in the Salvation Army at the time.  Sadly everyone I can ask has now died, did you find out anymore?

[joanne56]

Joanne,
I am also trying to find info on Oakhill Home,  my grandmother who was unmarried in the 1920's gave birth to my father who was then adopted by a couple who were in the Salvation Army at the time.  Sadly everyone I can ask has now died, did you find out anymore?

Unfortunately not. I did send a message to the email address that Sue gave me but never recieved a reply. Can't seem to find the email address either, but if I do I will send it to you.
Joanne

[route66]

Thank Joanne,   I may try the Manchester records office or Manchester Heritage library.  Will let you know if I find anything else out

[Sally Ann Major]

Oakhill was opened in 1898 by the Women’s Social Services wing of the Salvation Army, as a rescue home with a capacity for eighteen women.  In common with other SA rescue homes it was re-designated as an industrial home ~1908.  Some mothers and infants were received in the home in 1918, beginning a changeover which culminated in 1939 with the home becoming solely a maternity home.  In 1933 a move to Mandley Park Avenue, Higher Broughton to place.  Oakhill included a wartime emergency hostel 1941 to 1943, later a girls’ hostel and then a mother and baby hostel.
[n:\heritage\individual folders\kevin\social centres\oakhill\oakhill.doc]

The SA holds some individual discharge records from the rescue/industrial and maternity homes.  The Salvation Army’s International Heritage Centre can be contacted on:

heritageREMOVE[at]salvationarmy.org.uk (replace [at] with @)