Convents in Middlesbrough

[Memories2bmade]

I hope someone is able to assist.  My grandmother lived in Emerald Street, Saltburn and in 1915, at the age of 6, her mother died & her father was presumed lost at sea.  From what we have been informed, her elder siblings, took her & her younger brother aged 4, to a convent.  I have contacted all Convents I can find within the area of Middlesbrough, Sisters of Mercy at Holyrood, Nazareth House, St Mary's at Tudhoe and the Faithful Companions of Jesus (although the latter apparently wasnt residential)  None of these have any records of my grandmother at that time. Would there be anywhere else I could try? My nan definitely said she was sent to a Convent (although she was not from a Catholic  background). Family research is so interesting  but with a lot of stumbling blocks at times.

[Jebber]

If you haven’t already done so, I would suggest that you contact Teesside Archives and see what records they hold of places your grandmother may have been sent.

[Ashtone]

Have you searched the 1921 census for your grandmother and her younger brother?

If they were still in a convent by June 1921 the census would indicate which one it was.

FindMyPast has the 1921 census, but you can search for free if you don't have a subscription.

[Memories2bmade]

Thank you for the respones.  I will contact Teeside Archives. 
In respect to the 1921 Census, I found both children 'back with their father' as boarders in a property. Their father had been serving on  HMS King Alfred as a stocker during the war and obviously came home and took them back into his care. Trying to find where the children were placed inbetween those years is proving a challenge.

[OurAncestors]

St Hildas of Whitby? This is the anglican convent. Very near saltburn. I don’t think they started until 1915.


Definitely look at the 1921 census

If you’re sure about the convent they  should still show up on the census if they were still there then. Institutions listed all the inmates.

[OurAncestors]

The website is https://www.ohpwhitby.org.uk/the-priory/st-hilda-of-whitby/

[Ashtone]

Two of the Middlesbrough convents represented in the 1921 census are:

1. St Mary's Convent, Abingdon Road, Middlesbrough

2. Holy Rood Orphanage Cottage Hospital, Children's Homes & Girls' Orphanage, Holy Rood House

Quite a few young "inmates" living at the above in 1921.

[coombs]

Yes, best thing to do is look for them in the 1921 census. If she was 6 in 1915 she'd be about 12 in 1921 so likely she was still in the convent by then.

My great gran from Oxford was also sent to a London convent and was baptised at a nearby church in March 1910 aged 14 and was working in service by the 1911 census in Bexhill, Sussex. Not sure how long she had lived there prior to 1910 but her mother died 8 years earlier, but her dad lived to 1927.

[rosie99]

Welcome to rootschat

Maybe if you give us her name we can see if we can find anything for you