Salvation Army homes for women: Hanbury Street and Navarino Road Refuges

These are the records of the The Salvation Army Refuge at 212 Hanbury Street, Whitechapel, and subsequently 48 Navarino Road, Dalston.

The collection comprises a Statement Book with details of individual residents at the refuge, 1884-1890, and an account book covering July 1884- October 1885.

The Statement Book includes the categories name; age; where born; where from; marriage; relatives; service or other employment; school; hospital. It also includes an in-depth statement ('Further Particulars') detailing the history, circumstances and character of the applicant based on their primary interview with a Salvation Army Social Work officer; a list of further 'Dates of Warden's Interviews'; and details of 'Disposal on Leaving the Home'.

The records are arranged as follows:

HSNR/1: Girls' Statement Book

HSNR/2: Rescue Work Account Book

Hanbury Street was The Salvation Army's first Rescue Home for women. According to the Hanbury Street and Navarino Road Statement Book: 'The Refuge was opened first, May 22nd 1884, at Hanbury Street (No 212) Whitechapel, and was then, and for some time after, only in the initial stage. These papers of the Statements made by the Girls were not printed till 14 months later, on the removal of the Refuge, August 5th 1885, to 48 Navarino Road, Dalston.' However, the account book entries for Hanbury Street finish in May 1885 and begin for Navarino Road in July 1885.

The property at 48 Navarino Road, known from July 1887 as Dalston I, was one of three Salvation Army Rescue Homes run from adjacent properties in Navarino Road. However, around Christmas 1888 The Salvation Army was given a month's notice to vacate all three properties on Navarino Road. These were replaced by the Grove House, Clapton Square and Amhurst Road Homes, with Grove House (also known as London I) replacing Dalston I.

Open for research. The reading room of The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre is open Tue-Fri 9.30-4.00. It is advisable to make an appointment. Tel: 0207 326 7800; email: heritage@salvationarmy.org.uk .

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.