St Monica's Maternity Home: 'They told me I was disgusting'

Joan Godsall was 15 when she was sent to St Monica's Maternity Home

A woman who was sent to a church-run maternity home for unmarried women aged 15 has said she was made to feel she was "not worthy of anything".

Joan Godsall from Preston said she was left traumatised by her experience at St Monica's Maternity Home in Kendal in the 1950s.

Now 83, she recalled being threatened, told she was "disgusting" and given daily duties of scrubbing and cleaning.

She described the former home as "a wicked place".

The Diocese of Carlisle, which ran the Church of England home where teenage girls were sent to have their babies away from view, said its "heartfelt apologies goes to anyone who has suffered such mistreatment".

The home operated from 1918 until 1970.

St Monica's was run by the Diocese of Carlisle until it closed in 1970

Mrs Godsall told BBC North West Tonight: "I was 15 and I just cried every night.

"You were given your daily duties scrubbing cleaning whatever and if you were too tired to do anything you were just told if you don't do it you'll be on the labour bed by yourself.

"I don't think they knew how to be nice to people."

Mrs Godsall was allowed to take her baby home after her parents intervened

She said: "The threat after you'd had your baby was if you don't do as you are told you will not see your baby - you will not go in the nursery to see your baby.

"They just thought you were wicked. It was like 'you're disgusting for what you've done'. And that's how you felt.

"You weren't worthy of anything."

Mrs Godsall was one of the few girls who managed to keep her baby and was allowed to take her daughter Elaine home after her parents intervened.

She went on to marry her baby's father and they had more children together.

"I was just so happy," she said.

"I can't describe what it was like because I'd cried non-stop for so long and then you can't explain what it's like until you think someone's going to take your baby."

Mrs Godsall said she was made to feel "not worth of anything"

Her daughter, Elaine Wallace, said she had often felt responsible for her mother's experience.

"Sometimes you feel a bit guilty because you think 'my mum's gone through all that because of me'," she said,

"But then my mum is very strong. We've all learned to be strong from what my mum's gone through."

Mrs Godsall's daughter Elaine (L) said she "felt guilty" about what her mother had been through

Last month an investigation by North West Tonight revealed allegations of historical abuse at the home.

A Diocese of Carlisle representative said receiving further allegations of mistreatment was "deeply disturbing".

"The Diocese is committed to continue to reach out to anyone who comes forward with such allegations," they said.

"Those working at St Monica's were in positions of trust. To breach such trust would constitute a terrible dereliction of duty and our heartfelt apologies goes to anyone who has suffered such mistreatment."