Situated in Walthew Park, the geographic centre of the Diocese of Liverpool, St Joseph's College was a Roman Catholic Seminary run by a board of trustees headed by the Archbishop of Liverpool.
NOTABLE DATES:
1880 founded by Bishop Bernard O'Reilly.
1883 opened as Seminary for NW England - secondary education for junior boys 11-18 yrs; philosophy and theology education for senior boys 18-24 yrs.
1972 Seminary educating junior boys 11-18 yrs across North England.
1975 senior boys 18-24 yrs moved to Urshaw Seminary College.
1980 role changed to Boarding School for boys 11-18 yrs (not only those wishing to enter Priesthood)
1987 due to falling numbers boarders attended St John's Rigby College for schooling as more economical.
1992 last boarders graduated and the College closed.
SCANDAL:
In 2006 allegations of historic child sexual abuse ( in 1970s ) lead to the suspension of a Priest from Darlington and a £35,000 compensation payout.
DRAMA:
In 2010, following the 50th Anniversary Special of Coronation Street. St Joseph's Graveyard was used to film the funerals of the street's residents that tragically lost their lives in the Tram crash that demolished half the street.
In 2012, the disused Seminary full of rambling corridors, crumbling plaster and dark spooky corners provided the ideal setting for the supernatural drama Bedlam.
The Grade II listed building set in 150 acres has also been used as a backdrop for top selling films;
Splintered (2010) a U.K movie about Sophie and her group of friends who go on a trip to an area of Wales looking for some kind of beast that is killing in the area.
Noble (2014) a film written and directed by Stephen Bradley about the true life story of Christina Noble, a children's rights campaigner, charity worker and writer, who founded the Christina Noble Children's Foundation in 1989.
THE EXPLORE:
Visited with fellow 28DL member @scotty markfour . This was our third trip but first successful entry. We were totally wowed by the place!! The awe of such a vast building, the suspense trying to avoid setting off alarms and security, the excitement of finally getting a glimpse of the historic treasures locked inside and the confusion of corridors meandering back to where you started (LOL) kept us busy and lost in the magic for 5 1/2 hours. In fact we'd probably still be in there if Secca hadn't discovered us in the big downstairs kitchen and escorted us on our walk of shame out through the front door, but we will be back!!
THE PHOTOS:
Not being as experienced a photographer as some of you, pics were taken by my trusty Samsung WB750 which serves me just fine...
NOTABLE DATES:
1880 founded by Bishop Bernard O'Reilly.
1883 opened as Seminary for NW England - secondary education for junior boys 11-18 yrs; philosophy and theology education for senior boys 18-24 yrs.
1972 Seminary educating junior boys 11-18 yrs across North England.
1975 senior boys 18-24 yrs moved to Urshaw Seminary College.
1980 role changed to Boarding School for boys 11-18 yrs (not only those wishing to enter Priesthood)
1987 due to falling numbers boarders attended St John's Rigby College for schooling as more economical.
1992 last boarders graduated and the College closed.
SCANDAL:
In 2006 allegations of historic child sexual abuse ( in 1970s ) lead to the suspension of a Priest from Darlington and a £35,000 compensation payout.
DRAMA:
In 2010, following the 50th Anniversary Special of Coronation Street. St Joseph's Graveyard was used to film the funerals of the street's residents that tragically lost their lives in the Tram crash that demolished half the street.
In 2012, the disused Seminary full of rambling corridors, crumbling plaster and dark spooky corners provided the ideal setting for the supernatural drama Bedlam.
The Grade II listed building set in 150 acres has also been used as a backdrop for top selling films;
Splintered (2010) a U.K movie about Sophie and her group of friends who go on a trip to an area of Wales looking for some kind of beast that is killing in the area.
Noble (2014) a film written and directed by Stephen Bradley about the true life story of Christina Noble, a children's rights campaigner, charity worker and writer, who founded the Christina Noble Children's Foundation in 1989.
THE EXPLORE:
Visited with fellow 28DL member @scotty markfour . This was our third trip but first successful entry. We were totally wowed by the place!! The awe of such a vast building, the suspense trying to avoid setting off alarms and security, the excitement of finally getting a glimpse of the historic treasures locked inside and the confusion of corridors meandering back to where you started (LOL) kept us busy and lost in the magic for 5 1/2 hours. In fact we'd probably still be in there if Secca hadn't discovered us in the big downstairs kitchen and escorted us on our walk of shame out through the front door, but we will be back!!
THE PHOTOS:
Not being as experienced a photographer as some of you, pics were taken by my trusty Samsung WB750 which serves me just fine...