The Haven Yateley

The Haven Yateley was a  Mother and Baby Home where unmarried mothers went to have their babies. The house was bought specifically for the purpose by The Baptist Union and run by the Baptist Women's League, opening in 1945, and eventually closing in 1970 by which time applications had dropped significantly. 

 

During this time about 1800 babies were born there, the majority of whom were given up for adoption, with adoptive parents coming to collect them at six weeks old whilst there birth mothers were still resident in the home.  There were, however, a few mums who resisted the pressure to adopt, my own mum being one of them.  

Penny Green