GB 2133 Thorndale - Thorndale

Identity area

Reference code

GB 2133 Thorndale

Title

Thorndale

Date(s)

  • 1905-1999 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

12 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The site of Thorndale House has served multiple functions relating to the care of women, children and families. These functions have been known under many different titles.

Upon opening in 1920, Thorndale's aim was to serve 'the unmarried mother and her child, the woman ''who has lost her way,'' and the little waif girlie who was left despite her tender years to manage as best she may'. In 1923 the work of Wellington Park House Industrial Home was transferred to Thorndale. Combining a Receiving and Industrial Home; a Home for Mothers and Infants; and a Hostel, Thorndale continued to provide a combination of 'training', maternity services and shelter for women from the early 1920s until the early 1980s.

From approximately 1947-1949 Thorndale incorporated a Girls' Training Home for teenagers; this work replaced that of the outdated Industrial Home. At this time Thorndale also ceased being known as a Hostel/Shelter. After 1949 Thorndale continued to serve as a Maternity Home; it also incorporated a second function as a short-stay Hostel for Mothers with Children. In 1951 Thorndale resumed its 'training' function when a new wing was added to the site to house mothers who had been summoned to court for neglect of their children. Their attendance at Thorndale was an alternative to a prison sentence. The work of the Centre for Mothers with Children continued until 1982. From 1978/1979-1982 Thorndale also served as a Children's Home. This work ceased in September 1982; this was due to the 'current policy' of fostering children and the location of Thorndale.

During 1983-1985 Thorndale underwent a period of transition; options were debated regarding the future use of the site and that of Mayflower (another Belfast 'training' centre for mothers). In May 1984 the work of Mayflower and Thorndale was merged under a single administration with the name of Thorndale Centre.

Since 1986 Thorndale has served as a residential Centre for Families with an emphasis on short-term and training work. At present (August 2013) Thorndale is a Parenting Assessment / Family Centre; it has 20 family units with a maximum accommodation for 77 residents.

Archival history

GB 2133 Thorndale 1905-1999 Collection (fonds) 12 boxes Thorndale Parent Assessment / Family Centre

The site of Thorndale House has served multiple functions relating to the care of women, children and families. These functions have been known under many different titles.

Upon opening in 1920, Thorndale's aim was to serve 'the unmarried mother and her child, the woman ''who has lost her way,'' and the little waif girlie who was left despite her tender years to manage as best she may'. In 1923 the work of Wellington Park House Industrial Home was transferred to Thorndale. Combining a Receiving and Industrial Home; a Home for Mothers and Infants; and a Hostel, Thorndale continued to provide a combination of 'training', maternity services and shelter for women from the early 1920s until the early 1980s.

From approximately 1947-1949 Thorndale incorporated a Girls' Training Home for teenagers; this work replaced that of the outdated Industrial Home. At this time Thorndale also ceased being known as a Hostel/Shelter. After 1949 Thorndale continued to serve as a Maternity Home; it also incorporated a second function as a short-stay Hostel for Mothers with Children. In 1951 Thorndale resumed its 'training' function when a new wing was added to the site to house mothers who had been summoned to court for neglect of their children. Their attendance at Thorndale was an alternative to a prison sentence. The work of the Centre for Mothers with Children continued until 1982. From 1978/1979-1982 Thorndale also served as a Children's Home. This work ceased in September 1982; this was due to the 'current policy' of fostering children and the location of Thorndale.

During 1983-1985 Thorndale underwent a period of transition; options were debated regarding the future use of the site and that of Mayflower (another Belfast 'training' centre for mothers). In May 1984 the work of Mayflower and Thorndale was merged under a single administration with the name of Thorndale Centre.

Since 1986 Thorndale has served as a residential Centre for Families with an emphasis on short-term and training work. At present (August 2013) Thorndale is a Parenting Assessment / Family Centre; it has 20 family units with a maximum accommodation for 77 residents.

Contact the Archive for further information.

These are the records of Thorndale Parent Assessment / Family Centre and its predecessor body, Wellington Park House Industrial Home, 1905-1999.

The collection comprises books and minutes maintained by staff at Thorndale House, as well as administrative papers and correspondence relating to individual residents.

The records are arranged in six series:

THO/1 Industrial Home

THO/2 Maternity services

THO/3 Hostel

THO/4 Hostel for Mothers with Children

THO/5 Centre for Families

THO/6 Administrative papers and correspondence

See Scope and Content.

Many of the records contain personal and sensitive material and therefore, at present (August 2013), are closed under the Data Protection Act. As a general rule as of 2013, files or volumes which have sensitive content about adults are closed for 75 years; files or volumes about children are closed for 100 years. All items up to 1913 are therefore open. All files or volumes and their content are only available after permission is given from the Archivist. Open files can be viewed in the reading room of The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre, open Tue-Fri 9.30-4.00. It is advisable to make an appointment. Tel: 0207 326 7800; email: heritage@salvationarmy.org.uk.

Contact the Archive for further information.

English

Contact the Archive for further information.

Catalogued by Hari Jonkers, August 2013
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

EAD into AIM25 October 2014 Residential care homes Thorndale Parent Assessment / Family Centre Housing Accommodation Building standards Building design Construction engineering

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Contact the Archive for further information.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

These are the records of Thorndale Parent Assessment / Family Centre and its predecessor body, Wellington Park House Industrial Home, 1905-1999.

The collection comprises books and minutes maintained by staff at Thorndale House, as well as administrative papers and correspondence relating to individual residents.

The records are arranged in six series:

THO/1 Industrial Home

THO/2 Maternity services

THO/3 Hostel

THO/4 Hostel for Mothers with Children

THO/5 Centre for Families

THO/6 Administrative papers and correspondence

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

See Scope and Content.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Many of the records contain personal and sensitive material and therefore, at present (August 2013), are closed under the Data Protection Act. As a general rule as of 2013, files or volumes which have sensitive content about adults are closed for 75 years; files or volumes about children are closed for 100 years. All items up to 1913 are therefore open. All files or volumes and their content are only available after permission is given from the Archivist. Open files can be viewed in the reading room of The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre, open Tue-Fri 9.30-4.00. It is advisable to make an appointment. Tel: 0207 326 7800; email: heritage@salvationarmy.org.uk.

Conditions governing reproduction

Contact the Archive for further information.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Contact the Archive for further information.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Salvation Army International Heritage Centre

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area