The Salvation Army opened a rescue establishment at 63 Great George Street in Belfast city centre in 1886 before moving to Wellington Park, Malone Road, Belfast in 1905.

In 1920, the Salvation Army acquired Thorndale House on the Antrim Road, North Belfast, and turned it into a mother and baby / maternity institution which operated until 1977. The industrial institution on the Malone Road moved to the new Antrim Road site in 1922 and operated alongside the mother and baby institution.

Women and girls were placed in the institution from a variety of referral sources which included social workers, probation officers and charity workers. Parental and family referrals took place, as did those by members of the clergy and by Salvation Army officers. Individuals were also sent directly from police courts on probation, as an alternative to a prison sentence. In many cases the police or social services brought women and girls under Care and Protection Orders to the Thorndale site. 

What Records Exist and What Do They Contain? 

As with the records relating to Thorndale Mother and Baby Institution, the records for the Industrial part of the site are rather complex. There are Girl’s Statement books which cover the period between 1922 - 1964, and 1982 - 1984. There are Day Books which include all women and girls placed in the Industrial Home between 1926 - 1939, 1942 - 1963 and 1974 - 1979. There are also Country Statement Books, in which Thorndale administrators submitted monthly declarations of women and girls leaving the institution. 

To What Period Do The Records Relate?

Thorndale Industrial Home records relate to the period 1922 – 1979. 

Who Is the Controller of the Records?

The Salvation Army control the records.

How Best Can the Records Be Accessed?

Personal Records

Personal records held by the Salvation Army relating to Thorndale Industrial Home 

can be accessed by submitting a Subject Access Request for information under the UK GDPR. For details of how to make such an application please refer to the guidance on our Accessing Records and Your Rights page.

Contacting the Salvation Army

It is recommended that all communication with the Salvation Army should be in writing and copies of correspondence should be kept. The contact details for the Salvation Army are as follows: 

The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre
William Booth College
Champion Park
London SE5 8BQ
Email: heritage@salvationarmy.org.uk