2019.01883a The Lodge of the former Magdalene Asylum, Gorgie Road, Edinburgh.

On the Ordnance Survey 25-inch map of 1893-94 revision, published 1896, the Magdalene Asylum is shown about 1/3 of the way down the left edge of the map. The Lodge is shown to the NE of the main building, at the roadside.

This very useful article by Jo Thor (Jowita Thor) was published on January 3, 2018 and discusses: "Magdalene Establishments in nineteenth-century Edinburgh".

This is an abstract of Jo Thor's thesis, going beyond Edinburgh: Protestant Magdalene Asylums in Scotland, 1797-1914

From an article in the Scotsman newspaper of March 2017: Scotland's Magdalene Asylums for 'fallen women': The first Magdalene Asylum in Edinburgh opened in the Canongate in 1797. According to the Scotsman "the Magdalene Asylum moved to Dalry in the 1840s" (the Gorgie Road location).

And from the online version of Hugo Arnot's "History of Edinburgh" of 1816, we have this description of the original Canongate establishment:---

Magdalene Asylum.
"The design of this Institution, is to shelter, and occupy in useful labour, those females who may be reclaimed from prostitution to the paths of virtue, A magnificent edifice was built for their reception in 1797, north back of Canongate, and they are not exposed to common view. In the ground-floor is a chapel, where public worship is performed every Sabbath evening. The females are not seen, but sing an appropriate hymn by themselves, previous to dismission. A collection is taken at the door. The work performed there is spinning, sewing, washing, and other occupations; and, unlike most charitabie establishments connected with labour the return nearly equals the expense of subsistence. One-third of the value of the work is allowed to the females for clothing. From the date of the Institution, in 1797, until the first of January 181S, there had been received into the Asylum 202 females; 33 of whom had claimed protection during the preceding year. Of all that number, only 93 exceeded 24 years of age; which perhaps goes to testify, that vicious habits, when long rooted, become incurable. Most of the whole had been discharged, and sent to service, or were reconciled to their relations; but some proved irreclaimable. There then remained 59 in the house. It is singular to remark, that although other vices are eradicated, no instance has yet occurred of reformation from drinking; another proof added to a thousand others, of the pernicious effects attending the use of ardent spirits. The expenditure of the house for the year now referred to, was L.1081; while the receipt was L.1099. Of this, the expence of subsistence amounted to L.733; and the produce of labour to L.528. The funds arise from collections, annual subscriptions, occasional donations, and the value of the work done in the Asylum}.but as there is no more than sufficient, even with rigid economy, to support the establishment, cases of a very distressing and urgent nature are sometimes necessarily rejected."

Taken in: UK / Scotland / Dalry (show map)

Taken on: April 12, 2019

Tags:

Scotland

Edinburgh

Ardmillan Terrace

Henderson Terrace

Magdalene Asylum

Lodge

Springwell House

Canongate

Jo Thor

Jowita Thor

Sony RX100M3

David Dorren

J.D. Dorren « less

Sets appears in: • Edinburgh

Groups appears in: • Buildings/Architecture • all scotland more » • Britain's Buildings in Pictures • This is Scotland • Building Scotland « less

Camera: Sony DSC-RX100M3, f/4.0, 1/800 sec, 8.8mm, ISO 125 (more info) (hide info)

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