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Report - - St Joseph's Orphanage, Preston - Oct 2017 | Asylums and Hospitals | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - St Joseph's Orphanage, Preston - Oct 2017

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UrbandonedTeam

the north
Regular User
'Numerous reports have been received in the last week of groups of youngsters breaking into the building. A further post said police had been called out on Friday (23 June) to remove children who had become trapped in the building. The orphanage is current the subject of plans being drawn up for its future – with Preston City Council putting pressure on its owner to find a new use for the abandoned building.'

History
St Joseph's Orphanage was opened in 1872, after being mainly payed for by a wealthy widow, Mrs Maria Holland, who wanted to help end the increasing mortality rate in Preston, as at the time, it was one of the worst in Britain. She payed £10,000 to begin the making of the building. The orphanage was solely for catholic girls and was run by nuns that were mostly Dutch when the building first opened but became more widespread in nationalities as time went on. The architecture was designed by M.R.W Hughes.

In 1877, an adjoining hospital was created by the funding of Maria Holland, known locally as Mount Street Hospital. It was for roman catholics and was maintained by voluntary contributions from the public. It had the capability to hold about 25 patients. The hospital received it's first operating theatre in 1910. In WW1, it housed and treated wounded English and Belgian soldiers. A new wing was added to it in 1933 and another was added in 1958 by Princess Marina and the Dutchess of Kent. Legendary performer George Formby died at the hospital following a heart attack in 1961.

Ten years after the orphanage opened in 1882, Maria Holland passed away at the age of 72. Since then, she was still regarded a lot by people that worked or lived inside the building and in 1987 the workers found a painting of her from when she was alive, but I'm unsure what happened to it.

The hospital closed in 1982 when the last nuns retired from nursing. Part of the strcuture later became a care home which closed down more than a decade ago.

Our Visit
This was one of our first explores and still remains to be my favourite. You can get lost in the vast amounts of corridors and rooms, but every now and then you find a hidden gem, like the chapel in the heart of the building for example, or a wacky but beautifully coloured room, with vines coming through the window.

After spotting some people waiting outside the entrance to the site, as if until the coast was clear, we followed them, made contact and they showed us around, since we hadn't visited for a year. A lot has changed inside, one of the corridors which we have walked along in the past has collapsed and the walls are floating in mid-air it seems.

We didn't spend long inside however, although if we weren't in that sort of adrenaline rush, I definitely would've liked to. Hence, why I will probably go again soon and spend hours in the many corridors that the building holds.

Pictures

For some reason, all the pictures I took in reasonable darkness during this explore were converted to a CR2 file and became a little fuzzy, which is annoying, and another reason why I will go back soon. Anyway, I hope you enjoy them nevertheless and please leave me some feedback.

The sign above the main entrance to the building.

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Statue overlooks.

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The middle courtyard from a second story window.

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One of the only wheelchairs left - there used to be loads!

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Chapel.

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You used to be able to climb to the top of that, but it's all collapsed now.

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Operating theatre.


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Wiry twigs wrap around this window.

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Nature bursting in.

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Video

Here's the video. It's a documentary style explore featuring the history and the inside of the building. Hope you enjoy it and once again, please leave me some feedback and it helps out more than you think!


Thanks for reading :)
 

ZerO81

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Once again, some nice shots from you!

I remember when the stained glass in the chapel was all in place, shame to see it like this now.
 

albino-jay

g00n Buster
Staff member
Moderator
Once again, some nice shots from you!

I remember when the stained glass in the chapel was all in place, shame to see it like this now.

I know yeah. We popped in here the other week and it amazed me to see how fucked it is since i went in 2014 and yeah theyre all potted. Apart from the Praise Jesus one at the back. Thats still there!

might chuck the pics up later when im home just for an update.

Back to the OP tho. Good report mate i love a bit of nightcrawling and dark shots. Good stuff
 

UrbandonedTeam

the north
Regular User
I know yeah. We popped in here the other week and it amazed me to see how fucked it is since i went in 2014 and yeah theyre all potted. Apart from the Praise Jesus one at the back. Thats still there!

might chuck the pics up later when im home just for an update.

Back to the OP tho. Good report mate i love a bit of nightcrawling and dark shots. Good stuff
Thanks mate :)
 
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