Hi Lauren. Welcome to the forum Thanks for responding Just a reminder to all, please be careful with private messaging. While some longstanding members have been fully verified, most are strangers. The contact button only uses a dummy email but if people exchange links and real emails, you are vulnerable to scams.

St. Faith's Shelter Timeline:

^{Please note, although I have endeavored to be accurate, there may be errors and mistakes that I have overlooked, please do your own research. Anywhere I am unsure I have put a (?)} 1898 • Miss Alice M. Bourne (daughter of Captain Johnson Bourne- 41st Regiment) wanted to help young women and girls in distress and so decided to take in young women in an attempt to assist them. She and Emma Stokes (whose home she used in a court in Smithford street (some reports say Fleet Street)) took in a young girl who was in distress in about 1898. It is from here that St. Faith's originated. Mrs Stokes was a nurse and Miss Bourne entrusted the care of the at-risk young women she found to her. 1898 • Miss Bourne then used her own home in 16 Trafalgar Street as the shelter shortly after. She also used 17 Trafalgar Street (?). 1900 • On New Years Day 1900, the home in Trafalgar Street was flooded in the Great Coventry Flood and so they moved to 41 Chester Street in 1901. Miss Bourne was Secretary/ Superintendent and Mrs Mary A. Bateman was Matron. It was here at Chester Street where St. Faith's gained its name. • At some point here the shelter moved to somewhere on Meriden Street (?). 1907 • In about 1907 Miss Bourne steps down due to ill health. 1907/8 • In about 1907/8 Shelter moves to 25 Coundon Road where Annie Florence Higgs (head matron), Hannah Potter (Matron) and Edith Mary Fallowfield (assistant Matron) ran St. Faith's shelter. 1908 • On the 7^th of December 1908 Miss Bourne passes away, she was buried on the 10^th of December 1908 in London Road Cemetery (beside the Anglican Chapel) in the Howe/ Bourne Vault. 1913 • In about 1913, St. Faith's Shelter moves to the Holy Trinity Vicarage, St Nicholas Street. 1915 • In about 1915 a night shelter 'off- shoot' home is opened at 104 Little Park Street (this was a supplement to the St. Faith's Shelter on St. Nicholas Street). 1923 • In 1923 St. Faith's shelter moves to 50 Holyhead Road (formerly a medical home). Sister Alicia was in charge of the Shelter but left shortly after due to other commitments. In the same year the night shelter in Little Park Street closed. 1920s-30s • Miss M. Richards was superintendent in the 20's and early 30's. 1932/3 • Miss Margaret Paton arrives in 1932/3 as assistant and then one year in becomes the new superintendent in 1933/4. In about 1940 Miss Doris Whitehead became Assistant matron later becoming Matron. WW2 • During WW2 Miss Paton was forced to evacuate many of her residents outside of Coventry due to the dangers of the Coventry Blitz. 1944-1946 • In 1944-46, 50 Holyhead Road was sold to the Coventry Society for the Blind and St. Faith's moved to its final location, Dudley Lodge, 143 Warwick Road (previously owned by the late Mr Emanuel Kalker). 1950 • In 1950, Miss Patton was superintendent, Miss Whitehead was Matron, Miss McKenzie was Laundry Supervisor and Miss Heelan was Kitchen Supervisor. 1971 • Miss Paton Retired in 1971 and Mr Tom W. Roberts took over as Superintendent and his wife, Nell, as Matron (both had been long term social workers previously). Mrs Alice L. Galpine JP was secretary. 1977 • In 1977, Mr and Mrs Roberts retired and Mr Brinley Sutton and his wife, Myrtle, became officer in charge and Matron respectively. Secretary- Mrs V. A. Probert. 1978 • In 1978 Dudley Lodge had a 16-bed extension doubling the space to around 38 to 45 single women and children. 1978 • At the end of 1978 Mr and Mrs Sutton resigned and Mr Tom Roberts and Mrs Nell Roberts returned as interim leaders. 1979 • In Summer 1979, Mr and Mrs Sutton's son, Clyde Roberts and his wife, Grace, took over the shelter. Secretary- Mrs V. A. Probert. Mr Cylde. O. Roberts remained shelter director into at least 1990 and was involved in the shelter as a company secretary until 2003 (?). 2004 • In about 2004 Mr James Evans was the manager of Dudley Lodge & St. Faith's Residential Centre. 2015 • In about 2015 Mrs Angela Lane was the manager of Dudley Lodge. 2018 • In about 2018 Natasha Skinner was manager of Dudley Lodge. 2020 • Lastly, in 11 Nov 2020, Paula Niven became the Registered Manager of Dudley Lodge. She currently (at time of writing, June 2026) runs Dudley Lodge alongside Service Manager Helen Brookes. ^{Note: Tulliver Street was suggested as one of the locations of the shelter but I am unable to verify this.}

Dudley Lodge, 143 Warwick Road, at around the time St. Faith's Shelter moved there in 1946. - Map Credit and attribution: ^{Use licensed under CC-BY 4.0 Creative Commons. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland -https://maps.nls.uk/. Title of image: "Air Photo Mosaic Sheet (1:1,250 scale): 42/3378 S.W. / SP 3378 S.W. Prepared from Air Photos taken: March, 1946, Publication date: no date Size: sheet ca. 55 x 46 cm (ca. 22 x 18 inches)" Link to specific map image: map link. Derivative changes made: none made except magnification and contrast.} -

Miss Alice Mary Bourne's Grave (Howe/ Bourne Vault by the Anglican Chapel), London Road Cemetery. Passed 7th of December 1908. Superintendent and founder of St. Faith's Shelter (1898 to about 1907).

St. Faith's Shelter Timeline:

[[Updated]] Please note, although I have endeavored to be accurate, there may be errors and mistakes that I have overlooked, please do your own research. Anywhere I am unsure I have put a (?) 1898 • Miss Alice M. Bourne (daughter of Captain Johnson Bourne- 41st Regiment) wanted to help young women and girls in distress and so decided to take in young women in an attempt to assist them. She and Emma Stokes (whose home she used in a court in Smithford street (some reports say Fleet Street)) took in a young girl who was in distress in about 1898. It is from here that St. Faith's originated. Mrs Stokes was a nurse and Miss Bourne entrusted the care of the at-risk young women she found to her. 1898 • Miss Bourne then used her own home in 16 Trafalgar Street as the shelter shortly after. She also used 17 Trafalgar Street (?). 1900 • On New Years Day 1900, the home in Trafalgar Street was flooded in the Great Coventry Flood and so they moved to 41 Chester Street in 1901. Miss Bourne was Secretary/ Superintendent and Mrs Mary A. Bateman was Matron. It was here at Chester Street where St. Faith's gained its name. • At some point here the shelter moved to somewhere on Meriden Street (?). 1907 • In about 1907 Miss Bourne steps down due to ill health. 1907/8 • In about 1907/8 Shelter moves to 25 Coundon Road where Annie Florence Higgs (head matron), Hannah Potter (Matron) and Edith Mary Fallowfield (assistant Matron) ran St. Faith's shelter. 1908 • On the 7th of December 1908 Miss Bourne passes away, she was buried on the 10th of December 1908 in London Road Cemetery (beside the Anglican Chapel) in the Howe/ Bourne Vault. 1913 • In about 1913, St. Faith's Shelter moves to the Holy Trinity Vicarage, St Nicholas Street. 1915 • In about 1915 a night shelter 'off- shoot' home is opened at 104 Little Park Street (this was a supplement to the St. Faith's Shelter on St. Nicholas Street). 1922 • In Sept 1922 Miss Ruth Chadwick, Superintendent of St. Faith's, left for London. Matron in 1922: Miss Cartwright. 1923 • In 1923 St. Faith's shelter moves to 50 Holyhead Road (formerly a medical home). Sister Alicia was in charge of the Shelter but left shortly after due to other commitments. In the same year the night shelter in Little Park Street closed. 1924-32 • Miss M. Richards was superintendent. In 1927 Miss Joynt was Matron. Miss Baxter (3rd worker position) joined in Nov 1931. 1932/3 • Miss Margaret Paton arrives in 1932/3 as deputy/ acting superintendent and within 6 months in becomes the new superintendent in 1933/4. One of her first reforms were to remove locks from bedroom doors (they were placed there as there were many runaways) this significantly increased trust amongst the residents. In 1933 new '2nd and 3rd worker' positions were appointed to the roles. Miss Barrett is '3rd worker' from 1934 to 1935. Doris Whitehead joins in 1935 and in about 1940 Miss Whitehead became Assistant matron later becoming Matron. 1937 • Miss Paton learns to drive and uses the shelter's car to facilitate the running of the charity. WW2 • During WW2 Miss Paton was forced to evacuate many of her residents outside of Coventry due to the dangers of the Coventry Blitz. Houses outside of Coventry (firstly in Stratford-on-Avon and later Shipston-on-Stour) were used as evacuation places for the residents. During the Coventry Blitz the Holyhead Road shelter was badly damaged. 1944-1946 • In 1945, 50 Holyhead Road was sold to the Coventry Society for the Blind and St. Faith's moved to its final location, Dudley Lodge, 143 Warwick Road (previously owned by the late Mr Emanuel Kalker). In 1945 the temporary (evacuation) house was closed. 1950 • In 1950, Miss Patton was superintendent, Miss Whitehead was Matron, Miss McKenzie was Laundry Supervisor and Miss Heelan was Kitchen Supervisor. In 1952 Miss Cartner was the kitchen Supervisor. Miss Aindow was present in 1958. 1960 • Miss Paton receives MBE at Buckingham palace (15 Nov 1960). 1962 • Staff: Miss Paton, Miss Whitehead, Miss styles and Miss Sainsbury (who left in this year). 1963 • Miss Cartner retires as kitchen supervisor after 12 years service (1951) and is replaced by Mrs Westcott. 1971 • Miss Paton Retired in 1971 and Mr Tom W. Roberts took over as Superintendent and his wife, Nell, as Matron (both had been long term social workers previously). Mrs Alice L. Galpine JP was secretary. 1977 • In 1977, Mr and Mrs Roberts retired and Mr Brinley Sutton and his wife, Myrtle, became officer in charge and Matron respectively. Secretary- Mrs V. A. Probert.

Updated St. Faith's Shelter Timeline:- [[Continued]]

1978 • In 1978 Dudley Lodge had a 16-bed extension doubling the space to around 38 to 45 single women and children. 1978 • At the end of 1978 Mr and Mrs Sutton resigned and Mr Tom Roberts and Mrs Nell Roberts returned as interim leaders. 1979 • In Summer 1979, Mr and Mrs Sutton's son, Clyde Roberts and his wife, Grace, took over the shelter. Secretary- Mrs V. A. Probert. Mr Cylde. O. Roberts remained shelter director into at least 1990 and was involved in the shelter as a company secretary until 2003 (?). 2004 • In about 2004 Mr James Evans was the manager of Dudley Lodge & St. Faith's Residential Centre. 2015 • In about 2015 Mrs Angela Lane was the manager of Dudley Lodge. 2018 • In about 2018 Natasha Skinner was manager of Dudley Lodge. 2020 • Lastly, in 11 Nov 2020, Paula Niven became the Registered Manager of Dudley Lodge. She currently (at time of writing, June 2026) runs Dudley Lodge alongside Service Manager Helen Brookes. ^{Note: Tulliver Street was suggested as one of the locations of the shelter but I am unable to verify this.}

My aunt was in St Faith's after giving birth to Stephen John Cave on 7/5/59 in Keresley Hospital. He was adopted and I believe his first name was changed to Peter. Does anybody have any information about what happened to him? Thank you.

Hi Carol, and welcome to our forum. It's obviously a long-shot, but it's always possible that someone might eventually be able to find out something for you. Fingers crossed.

Hi, I was at St Faiths in December 1965 and gave birth just before Christmas. I was lucky enought to be able to keep my child. Are there any other (old) Ladies on this forum who were there in December 65?

Hi cassidy, welcome to the forum I hope you find some of your fellow St Faithers. People keep trickling in, looking for information, so you never know. Keep your eye out for emails as they can end up in spam boxes. Emails through the contact button are the best way to link up with sporadic visitors unless you become a regular poster, which would be even better

Good day, I saw a post by a Rebecca born April 30th 1967 seeking info on her birth mum Janet Lesbirel. I was born April 11th 1967 and my mum was able to keep me. I have a photo of us with another mum with a baby, however the baby is a bit bigger than I am so not sure if older. Does the forum permit photos of other residents or does privacy prevent that? Mum said we lived in what was known as a "Home for wayward women and unwed mothers" and St Faiths is the only mum and baby home I could find for Coventry. We moved to Bermuda when I was 6 weeks old where my grandparents and her siblings lived. I thought it was due to age regulations for travel but from the sounds of the forum that might have been the extent of time a new mum could stay? My birth certificate says I was born in Walsall but I know she stayed prior to my birth with her friend's family in Coventry. Would this have been the case that young mums were admitted to St Faith towards end of pregnancy and then taken to hospital in Walsall to give birth? She said she scrubbed floors vehemently to help induce labour ... another comment that aligns with other comments. Any insights as to why Walsall, how to identify or share the only photo I have and wondering if anyone would still be around to remember my Mum - Marion Morag McKenzie (MacKenzie) also went by Morag Marion. Had turned 21 just 3 weeks prior. Died this year at age 80years. Such courage these women had to keep their babies despite stigma and financial challenges. (She had been discharged from the army for becoming pregnant!) Thank you for helping me connect some dots... glad I have had a lifetime with my mum...but on a mission to find my birth father.

Hi Sundee, welcome to the forum A fascinating story, thanks for sharing it. Your mum was indeed couragious I can't think of a reason why women would have normally been moved from Coventry to Walsall to give birth. It's 27 miles away. Maternity units do fill up these days and people can be sent to another hospital but I don't know if that was the policy back then. My Mum gave birth on a board over a bath because there were no beds available. The midwife arrived just in time to stop my sister from hitting the taps. That wasn't Coventry though. Maybe there was a wider crisis in the hospitals at the time eg a flu outbreak? Maybe your Mum wasn't at St Faiths but just living in Coventry and moved to a unit in Walsall near her due date? Or maybe she was transferred to a different place just before she went into labour? It's worth investigating if St Faiths had any sister facilities in other towns. If that was the case then it's more likely that she'd have stayed there for a while, rather than be transferred straight back again, so maybe the photo is from Walsall? I don't see why you can't post the photo. I hope that someone can help you.