Salvation Army children's homes / homes for women: Northlands

Scope and Content

These are the papers of Northlands, 1933-1989.

Northlands is a Salvation Army social work centre in Cardiff, South Wales. It is (as of December 2013) still currently in use.

Northlands opened as a Maternity Home (or 'Mother and Baby Home') in 1922, and remained so until 1974. It then had various ongoing functions as a Hostel for Women and Children and as a Day Nursery. In 1973, it became a Children's Home. Its function changed again in 1986, when it became an Eventide Home until 2000. As of 2013, it is a Centre for the Single Homeless.

These records are grouped chronologically by each of the centre's functions, with two general sections of building plans and photographs at the end of the sequence. Many of the items in the collection are closed due to personal and sensitive information under the Data Protection Act.

The arrangement of the records is as follows:

NL 1: Maternity Home, 1922-1974

NL 2: Hostel for women and children, 1972-1976

NL 3: Day nursery, 1972-1978

NL 4: Children's Home, 1973-1985

NL 5: Eventide Home, 1986-2000

NL 6: Building plans

NL 7: Photographs

Administrative / Biographical History

Work commenced at Northlands, North Road, Cardiff in 1922, with the official opening taking place on 31st May of that year. It was a Home for Mothers and Infants until April of 1974. From February 1972 part of the home was used as a Hostel for Women and Children. This was intended to provide longer term care (2 years or so) for mothers who wished to keep their babies. This work continued until September 1976. In March 1972 a Day Nursery was started, which ran until June 1978.

From 1973 to 1985 Northlands was a Children's Home. Once the children's work had finished the building was used as an Eventide Home from 1986 to 2000. Since 2000 Northlands has been a Centre for the Single Homeless.

Access Information

Some items in this collection are closed to the public. Records of a personal nature relating to identified individuals are closed for the lifespan of the individual. When it is not possible to establish whether an individual has died, a closure period of 84 years (if the individual was an adult when the record was created) or 100 years (if the individual was a child when the record was created) is imposed under the Data Protection Act. Former residents can apply for access to their own records. Please enquire for details. Open files can be viewed in the reading room of The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre, open Tue-Fri 9.30-4.00. To make an appointment or to enquire about your own records, phone: 0207 326 7800; or email: heritage@salvationarmy.org.uk .

Additional Information

A multi-level description of this collection can be accessed in the International Heritage Centre's online catalogue: http://www.calmview.eu/SalvationArmy/CalmView/ . A paper catalogue is available in the reading room of the International Heritage Centre.