We propose a homology theory for locally compact spaces with ends in which the ends play a special role. The approach is motivated by results for graphs with ends, where it has been highly successful. But it was unclear how the original graph-theoretical definition could be captured in the usual language for homology theories, so as to make it applicable to more general spaces. In this paper we provide such a general topological framework: we define a homology theory which satisfies the usual axioms, but which maintains the special role for ends that has made this homology work so well for graphs. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V.