The Winchester Diocesan Maternity Home was located at 1 North Walls in the centre of Winchester (see map above), opening in November 1913 and closing in 1966. It was a home for unmarried mothers and their babies, formerly called the Winchester Refuge for Penitent Women.
It was part of the Winchester Diocesan Union for Preventive and Rescue Work, which later became the Winchester Diocesan Council for Moral Welfare and Winchester Diocesan Council for Social Responsibility.
Following the closure of the home in 1966 and the winding up of the Trust that ran it in the early 2000s, the current diocesan team has only recently become aware of this part of our history and the existence of the home.
We have also become aware of some distressing stories linked to the home, along with other mother and baby units run by the Church of England and the government; see: ‘I carry a hole in my soul’: Nearly 200 babies from church-run homes buried in unmarked graves | ITV News
The diocese has endeavoured to do some of its own research, including visiting the Hampshire Records Office to find out more. The annual reports in the archive provide statistics on the number of young women entering the home each year (initially 10-14 a year, rising to 31 in 1925); the number of babies born; the numbers of babies adopted or returned to the family home; and numbers of babies who died. The reports also speak of baptisms and confirmations taking place, as well as a brief outline of some of the activities with which the young women were engaged.
However, we are concerned to find out as much as we can about the home, not only factual information but also personal stories and experiences of people associated with it. The reason for this investigation is to help our diocese and its community to understand the past and to grapple with the deep questions it raises.
In response to the ITV news article above, the Church of England released the following statement which the Diocese of Winchester would like to sincerely echo:
“We are deeply saddened by any pain and distress experienced by those connected to mother and baby homes including any affiliated with the Church of England. The practices and societal attitudes of the time, which placed immense pressure on unmarried mothers, often left them with little choice but to place their babies for adoption. Sadly, this may well have been seen by many at the time as appropriate, however society now recognises the profound and lasting impact some of these decisions have clearly had on so many lives.”
“For those who have been hurt, we express our heartfelt sorrow and regret. That some children who died in these homes were buried in unmarked graves is a tragedy that raises deeply painful questions for families and communities. We cannot begin to imagine the anguish this has caused to those who have lived with unanswered questions about the resting places of their loved ones. These revelations are a stark reminder of the need to confront our shared history with honesty and compassion.”
If you have any information about the Winchester Diocesan Maternity Home and feel comfortable to share it, we would welcome hearing from you. Please email communications@winchester.anglican.org and we can arrange a phone call or meeting.
