St Faith's, Warwick Road

Does anyone have any memories of St. Faith's home for unmarried mothers? I was adopted in 1955 and spent a few weeks there when first born. I would particularly like any memories of women who had to stay there. Pictures of it in the '50's would be a bonus!

Hi Anne I walked past St. Faiths on my way to school most mornings. Until I was in my mid' teens, I did not know what its use was. I know someone who lived in there for a while but that was in the sixties.

Hi Philip! Thanks for that. Any period would be interesting to know about - I doubt that the swinging sixties made much difference for unmarried mothers in our city!

I know my late mum and her sisters and brother briefly spent some time here - late 1940's - before being sent off to Barnado's homes. My (late) grannie married in 1942 and by 1944, shortly after mum was born (their second child). My grandad topped himself. Nan then 'lived in sin' with another chap and had two more children. When she split up with this chap, Uncle R and Auntie I went to St Faith's then Barnado's before eventually being moved to Devon so that their dad could not have contact with them. (There was nothing wrong with him or no threat from him - grannie lied to the authorities about him being a bad 'un!) Being 'illegitimate', they were never 'rescued' by my gran's family circle. Before moving to Devon, mum and Auntie H were taken to see them one Christmas Day. Nan told them they were going to see their brother and sister to give them Christmas presents. Instead, she actually 'deposited' them at Barnado's - on Christmas Day! and was overheard by Auntie H talking to the Barnado's staff referring to Auntie I and Uncle R as 'the b*stards!' Being 'legitimate', mum and Auntie H were 'rescued' from time to time by the maternal family. The paternal family was up in Scotland so couldn't do anything. Nowadays, my grannie would probably be diagnosed with bi-polar at the very least. Back then it was 'kept in the family' and the kids suffered for it. I've seen the documents from St Faith's / Coventry Council - grannie lied about how her husband died (saying it was from polio). The Council ordered her to attend a work training hostel in return for taking the children into care. Mum never whinged about any of this when she was alive but clearly had a tough upbringing - with St Faith's playing a brief part in her life.

Hi all A question from me on this subject. What was the building used for to start with in Warwick Rd. Was it a convent school, as has been suggested to me. can anyone help with that also?

Brother Joybert - thank you for sharing that - a very sad story! I imagine St Faith's has many of those Philip - I must try to research that! Thanks

I too passed St Faith's many times on my way to KHVIII. What I did not realise until recently was that St Faith's only occupied this location (Dudley Lodge, 143 Warwick Road) from the mid 1940s. Previously it appears to have been the family home of Emanuel Kalker (electrical cable manufacturer), and before him Samuel Gorton (cycle and motor manufacturer). Earlier addresses for St Faith's Refuge for Friendless Girls include: 41 Chester Street (c1900-1905), 25 Coundon Road (c1906-1912), Radford Fields in St Nicholas Street (c1918-1922), and 50 Holyhead Road (1920s-1940s).

That's really interesting! It always seemed like a private house - it's a lovely building! The other addresses are interesting too - I wonder whereabouts it was in St Nicholas Street? And I wonder if the house in the Holyhead Road still stands?

My father's birth certificate of Sept 1919 states that he was born at 'Windsmoor', Holyhead Rd. Does anyone know if this was the same place as St Faith's? His mother appears to have been unmarried at the time of his birth.

I was one of those 60s unmarried mothers who resided at St Faith's. My daughter was adopted at the six week time capsule. Whilst there it was regimented and we all had to take part in daily chores - not a bad thing. I remember having to go to the kitchen in the night to prepare a bottle, to find ants everywhere! I never forget one girl who had twins who had to be adopted. I knew there was no possibility that I could keep my daughter as my mother could not accept my predicament. St Faith's was stark but in many ways caring. We were looked after and so long as we towed the line, no problems. Miss Paton I believe was the patron

Hello Lyngood, & welcome to our forum. Thank you for sharing your experience. We do hope that you enjoy your time with us.

No Anne, it was pulled down when the Ring Road was built. Prior to that it had been on the corner of Bangor Street which no longer exists.

Hello Lyngood, I should think times have changed a little since then, I could be wrong perhaps. I do believe some secondary schools here have creches for the unmarried students who wish to still further their education, and judging by some reports they are very content with that arrangement. I was sorry your mum felt the way she did, those were the times when girls had to pay for their sins. Now, as for the fathers - no comment!!!

That's very interesting, Lyngood. Have you ever heard anything about your daughter since then? I traced my 'original' family - my first mum, sadly, had died by then but I am still in touch with my half sister. Miss Paton kept notes on all her 'girls' and this provided some helpful information for me. Thanks for sharing

Thank you for that useful information, Dutchman