Female Refuge – 20th century

History of the Female Refuge Cambridge

NOTES

The Minute Books used here are:

Minute Book R60/27/16 The frontispiece reads ‘Cambridge Home of Mercy’ and the Book begins on

2nd April, 1912. This Minute Book is sparse on the inmates and mostly about appointing General Committee members. It’s much harder to pull out day-to-day incidents and hear inmates’ voices.

Minutes of the Managing Committee 1 January 1937 – 6th  July 1939, K264 R60/27/16 is fuller, moving into the early 20th Century.

Minutes of the General Committee span from 23rd April 1912- 11 February 1949 K264/R60/15

THE CAMBRIDGE FEMALE REFUGE IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

VOICES FROM THE FEMALE REFUGE focusses on the women’s interview testimonies and life stories up to 1853. This shorter follow-up project propels us into the twentieth century. The tone in the Minute Books from this period provides a much shorter, matter-of-fact record of the comings and goings of inmates, with information on their lives before the Refuge minimal.

During the new century, the Refuge continued to function as both a place of moral reform and rehabilitation and a going concern as a working commercial laundry. Into the early twentieth century, other employment options such as book-binding and shop work were becoming available for young women, but as women in the Refuge had been trained in laundry, washing and sewing, the institution placed them in domestic service roles at the end of their time in the institution. Women could of course leave those domestic service roles and take control of their own destinies.

By 1910 the Refuge was referred to by its managers as the ‘Mission House’, re- stating its founding purpose as a broadly Christian institution with a moral mission to re-launch its ‘fallen’ inmates and set them up for a respectable new life. Depending on inmates’ situations, the Refuge managers re-routed inmates to other institutions, such as hospitals or homes by the sea. Some went to Anglican convents, such as St Mary’s Ware.

The testimonies below are significantly fewer and shorter than those in VOICES FROM THE CAMBRIDGE FEMALE REFUGE, perhaps an indication that by 1910, the institution was practised in distilling the essentials. Perhaps most significant is that in this later period, as parents brought their daughters to the Refuge door, the Committee was expecting payment from those parents or other sponsors of these girls if they could, an indication that funds were low.

We hope that the names of these women will be helpful for family historians in particular, but also provide an insight into the ways in which, by the early twentieth century, respectable paid work would become available for former Refuge inmates in a range of different households and beyond them.

1910 – 1914

The term ‘application’ here means that a request has been made from a private household for a domestic servant from among the Refuge leavers. Applications for them to return home at the end of their time were also be made from women’ s own families.

LILLY MANN p.3 July 9th, 1911, A letter was read from the Father desiring her return home at the end of her time

FLORENCE MARY JONES,  55 Stanwell St Colchester 23rd April 1912, parents’ circumstances poor

MILDRED POPE p.4 July 9th, 1912, An application was received on behalf of Mildred Pope aged 15.  5/- a week was offered towards her cost.

EMILY HUNTER p.6, November 26th  1912, An application was received on behalf of Emily Hunter; it was decided that the case be accepted subject to a payment of £2.2s or more p.8  ‘arrived on December 4th’.

VIOLET JEFFRIES p.9, 14th January 1913.An application was received on behalf of Violet Jeffries which was allowed to stand over . Violet Jeffries arrived on Feb 7th, 1913

VIOLET LINGARD has returned. The Chairman explained the circumstances in full details of her escapade, which happily had not turned out disastrously from a moral point of view, & the girl was very full of shame for her foolish behaviour.

KATE BOZEE, p.11  April 29th, 1913. The Matron stated that after three years’ service in a Vicarage, this former inmate is to be married after Easter – her Master and Mistress spoke most highly of her.

FLORENCE HUNTER, p.12, 29th April 1913. It was decided to allow Florence Hunter to return to the Home when a vacancy occurred

LILLY MANN, p.12,October 14th, 1913, was also  allowed to return as a visitor for a few weeks to help in the Laundry.

FLORENCE MARSHALL, November 18th, 1913,has expressed a wish to stay on for a third year. The Committee thought something ought to be contributed, but, felt it important that she should be kept on.

18th November p.14 1913 Miss Bordesley states that the Ladies’ Committee will give a grant of £2 for Florence Marshall now, 7 & a little more later on.

EMILY STANTON LEE, P.14. Miss Bordesley states that her Committee will give a grant of £2 for  FLORENCE MARSHALL, now, & a little more later on.

EMILY STIMSON.p.14, 18th November 1913, An application on behalf of  was received/ from the Bedford Rescue Association. Age 14. Parents Eli & Sarah Stimson Well Place Biggleswade – if dismissed or leaving, to be sent to Miss Lawford December 2nd, 1913. It was decided that the girl be admitted.

DORA SHEPPERD p.14, 2nd December 1913, An application was received from Miss Lorton, the Haven, Ely. Parents, “Mother”, illiterate child. Girl lives in Leyton Buzzard. If dismissed on leaving, to be sent to Miss Lawford. It was decided the girl be admitted.

January 27th, 1914, p. 21.(January 26.)Dora Shepperd left for a feeble- minded home’.

ELSIE COPE 2nd December 1913, Elsie Cope was removed on Friday Nov.28th to the Lock Hospital [hospital for venereal disease] p.14 December 9th, 1913

LILIAN JOAN CULLEY – p.22 March 17th, 1914 – further concerning this girl’s children and her relations with her parents were read by the Chairman.

The case of FLORENCE MARY ANDERSON was considered, p.26 November 24th 1914

JEAN KITCHENER  can be returned to Mrs Mumford, Bedford & County Girls Home, Park Road South, Bedford, an entrance fee of £2 – 2 – 6 will be paid – this was accepted.

ROSE WHITWELL, p.22 May 26th, 1914, went to Addenbrookes’ Hospital; and after discharge there, will go to the Home in Ramsgate.

ELLEN ELIZABETH SHELTON p.23, 19th May1914, An application made on behalf of this girl age 16. 14 Whitty Road Rye Park Ilford, Parents, Robert Shelton, river-man. No Mother.  Not on streets. Child dead.  She kept home for her father. To be returned if dismissed, to Miss Morris, St. Mary’s Ware sister Louisa, St. Augustine’s Lodge, Norwich. October 13th, 1914

ELLEN MARGARET JAGGER. p.3 Wednesday 24th February 1937 Application has been received for Ellen Margaret Jagger who can be returned to Miss Mumford, Bedford and County Girls Home Bedford. The Home will pay Entrance fee and the father 11/- per week. This was accepted and the girl has arrived.

KATHLEEN MARY FRYAN p.4 Application has been received for Kathleen Mary Fryan who can be returned to Mrs Wells, 11 Burdett Road, Wisbech, Cambs. A fee will be paid. This was accepted and the girl has arrived.

p.1 R60.27,16 Friday 22nd January 1937

A very enjoyable party was given by the Ladies Committee – The Master of Selwyn presented the prizes and spoke most hopefully to the girls. This Meeting reported that the girls take the money found in their Christmas pudding towards the Girls Maintenance Fund of the Home.

p.3 Wednesday February 24th, 1937

MARJORIE MABEL SMITH  p.6 Friday June 18th, 1937. Application has been received on behalf of Marjorie Mabel Smith who can be returned to Miss Tomlinson, Bays House, 1 Trinity Street Colchester – this has been accepted and the girl has arrived.

SYLVIA THOMAS p.8, August 27th, 1937. Application has been received on behalf of  Sylvia Thomas who can be returned to Mrs Wells, 11 Burdett Road, Wisbech Cambs.

This was accepted and the girl has arrived.

BARBARA CRANE, p.9, September 22nd, 1939. Application has been received on behalf of Barbara Crane who can be returned to Mrs Wells, 11 Burdett Road, Wisbech Cambs. This was accepted and the girl has arrived.

LILLY GERTRUDE BELLAMY Application has been received on behalf of Lilly Gertrude Bellamy who can be returned to Miss Moore, Probation Office at Newark. This was accepted and the girl has arrived – A fee will be paid – .

Tuesday March 21st, 1939, p.30 The following girls have left the home for service: DAISY WOOLSTON, KATHLEEN GORDON, ELLEN JAGGER & VIOLET FROY

Application has been received on behalf of LAURA BARRETT who can be returned to Miss Conway, Church House, Panton Street.

This was accepted and the girl has arrived. An Entrance fee of

£2-2-0 was paid.

Saturday June 17, 1939, p.34, SILVIA THOMAS,  BARBARA, ELANE, GERTRUDE , LAURA, GWEN BECKETT  have left the Home for service.

March 21st, 1939

With the advent of the Second World War, the Refuge building was requisitioned for Military purposes in1939, and by February 1949 there were said to be eight families residing in it.

P. 92 Country Planning Act 1847

p.4 It was resolved that the charity be authorised to retain its capital and to pay its income to the Ely Diocesan Association for Moral Welfare, or to any such Association or Associations or Home in and about Cambridge carrying on that work in such shares and proportions at the Trustees shall from time to time decide, reserving to the Trustees if they so desire power to use the income in whole or in part such rescue work on the provision of Homes or otherwise for women who have fallen but seek to resume a Virtuous Life.