St Joseph’s Orphanage

14th, October 2009 by

St Joseph's Orphanage, PrestonDown Theatre Street in Preston (near the Post Office) is the former St Joseph’s Orphanage or Mount Street Hospital as it became know.

Blog Preston has a request from reader Martin Rue to find out more about it. So, after much searching on the web and drawing blanks, we set off to the Harris Museum and Preston’s Community History Library. Mysteriously, very little is known about St Joseph’s but here is what we did find out.

It was started in 1872 (according to Hewitson’s ‘A History of Preston) as an orphanage for Roman Catholic girls after an endowment from Mrs Maria Holland who later died in 1878.

Hewistson writes in his 1883 tombe, ‘A History of Preston’:

At the southern end of Theatre-street there is a charitable institution called St. Joseph’s Orphanage. It was built and partially endowed by a local Catholic lady – the lake Mrs. Maria Holland – in 1872. The Orphanage is solely for Roman Catholic orphan girls; and they are instructed and generally looked after by nuns. Mr.R.W.Hughes, formerly of Preston, was the architect of the building. Since its opening there have been extensions, the cost of which has been defrayed by Catholics. There are, at present, about 50 orphans here.

Hewitson then goes on to describe the St Joseph’s Institute which was built onto the orphanage in 1877.

On the eastern side of, and immediately adjoining, the Orphanage, there is “St Joseph’s Institute for the Sick Poor.” This building, which has its front in Mount-street, was erected out of funds bequeathed for the purpose by Mrs. Holland – the lady who erected the Orphanage; and it was opened in 1877. It is for Roman Catholics; is maintained by voluntary contributions; and is attended; gratuitously, by local medical gentlemen. There is accommodation at this Institute for about 25 patients.

The only other article in the community archives is a clipping from the Lancashire Evening Post on 3rd September 1987 about the Hospital puzzling over what to do about a painting of Maria Holland that is in the Hospital as they don’t know who donated it. There’s a few further bits of history about the St Joseph’s complex:

  • Mount Street Hospital received its first operating theatre in 1910
  • In World War 1 it housed wounded British and Belgian soliders
  • A new wing was added to the Hospital in 1933
  • In World War 2 it was used to care for Dutch and Belgian sailors
  • Another new wing was opened in 1958 by Princess Marina the Duchess of Kent
  • The nuns who ran the orphanage were originally Dutch and called the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of Mercy

The article references a Sister Winefride, who was retired and living next to the hospital in retirement. Whether she’s still there who knows, but it would be interesting to speak to her about St Joseph’s.

Maria Holland is an interesting character, as the founder of St Joseph’s, she must of had a lot of wealth. Her obituary is in the Preston Guardian, dated 2nd February 1878.

DEATH OF A CHARITABLE LADY – HANDSOME LOCAL BEQUETHS

In our obituary to-day we announce the death of Mrs. Maria Holland, of Bushell-place, at the age of 72. The deceased lady had suffered for some time past from the natural ailments of advanced age, and succumbed to her illness yesterday week. She was a lady possessed of considerable means, and was noted for great liberality, especially among the Roman Catholic community of the town, of which she was a member. She built and largely endowed St Joseph’s Orphanage, in connection with which she has recently caused to be erected a hospital for the sick and dying….

…The bulk of her fortunate, however, is bestowed upon the St Joseph’s Institution, for a permanent endowment.

Inside the St Joseph’s complex, which is due to be turned into luxury apartments, has had some urban photography exploration done. You can view what it’s like inside.

Image credit to Tony Worrall.

So there’s plenty to find out, what happened in St Joseph’s? Who worked there? What stories? If you’ve got anything that you know about the place, please post a comment below or email contactus@blogpreston.co.uk

  • Joanne

    I would also love to know more about the history of the orphanage side of St Josephs.

    I had heard that the nuns who were in the convent on the corner near the entrace to Avenham park had some records on the girls who lived there. But I think they have all retired somewhere else now?

    Anyway, my Grand-dad’s sister lived at the orphanage for a while when she was little. My Grand-dad was at St Vincents and he used to visit her when he could and take her fruit as a treat. He used to mention that they would hang over the wall watching the trains. I really can’t remember much else that he told me, except I feel it was not a very kind place for a young girl to live.

    One day I might get around to tracking down some of the records that they must have kept to find out more about their situation and why their mother left them there.

    Not much info for you, but it might be a start?!

  • Joan Wright

    Joanne did you find any more out about these orphanages. We are trying to trace the history for the boy’s St. Vincents which is where your grand dad lived. My father in law, who is still living, was placed in this orphanage in the middle 1920s. My husband and I have just returned from a visit to the building which was the orphanage. it is now Corpus Christie School. Email me if we can be any help to each other and it is quite difficult to get any info. joan

  • Ray-Ray

    ive been inside and stayed overnight not slept but jus wandered around … its just not nice .. it was pretty freaky thats all i really know :( ….

  • Scope

    Hey, ive been in a few times. And a Mr Foley keeps appearing on letters that are scattered about, and a mr Gornall too. Place is Awesome inside, but i think i heard a rumour that its due to be pulled down in a couple of weeks, dunno if they will. Its definatly worth a trip inside.

  • Ray-Ray

    who is you??

  • Patch39

    Hi,
    I was born in Mount Street Maternity Hospital (St Josephs) in 1939 and my brother was born there in 1943. I remember Sister Winfrede holding my hand and taking me to see my brother in the nursery. Gosh! that takes me back. Sadly I don’t remember anything more about the hospital, and hadn’t realised there was also an orphanage.

  • marie

    me and my siblings where often dumped at this awful orphanage and we was treated so badly by the nuns i had forgotten about this orphanage just rememberd the haris orphanage as we also spent a lot of time there also it was only about 12 months ago i seen the st josephs orphanage as i was walking down the street and it brought back so many awful memories i hope 1 day they drag this buildng down so many awful memories for a lot of people :(

  • Pat Watson

    I believe that my grandmother may have been placed at St. Joseph’s after her mother died in 1879. Is there any records of the children who lived there? And when did it close?

  • http://blogpreston Mary Rutley

    It seems that countless kiddies who were dumped in the ‘care’ (read ‘abuse’) of the perishing Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy suffered dreadfully, and are still suffering. Most of the nuns – not all – appear to have been a bunch of spiteful old bags. I attended their private convent in Dartford, where I endured four years of unmitigated hell. But that place wasn’t nearly as bad as the orphanage at Pantasaph. (Read the BBC Wales website). The time is overdue for this bunch of Roman Catholic hypocrites to be exposed.

  • http://stjoseph'sorphanage Mary

    Marie, I understand your feelings so well. The Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy had another orphanage at Pantasaph and the former victims of abuse by the nuns feel as you do.(Go to BBC Wales website).

    I went to the order’s private boarding school in Dartford, and it was the most hellish place I ever endured. I’m glad my old school has been pulled down, and I hope you get your wish for St Joseph’s.

  • Nik

    hi. i’m currently studying at uclan university and want to do my ‘heritage conservation’ project on this building. is there any other places or any people that may be able to help me out with any information? and how to i get inside?

    this would be very much appreciated. thank you.

    my email address is NMBarlow@uclan.ac.uk

  • hamish

    I was one of the unfortunates who spent about 4 years at St Vincents
    It was 4 of the most miserable years of my life, mainly as a result of the appalling treatment by the nuns who ran the place.
    If it happened today many of these nuns would have been prosecuted and we the victims of their callous treatment would have been able to claim for the effect on our lives.

    I dont know if records were kept but it would be interesting to read them, particularly about the number of (inmates) who tried to escape.

    I was fortunate in that I only spent 4 years there but I recollect that some were there much longer.
    Incidentally, St Vincents was far bigger that Mount St and had many more orphans.
    They have a lot to answer for.

  • Sian

    My late father was sent to St Vincent’s from St Joseph’s in Enfield during the war. In 1943 he went on to Blaisdon (Salesians) in Gloucestershire. He had very fond memories of Blaisdon but hated St Vincent’s. My dad’s favourite tale was about being beaten up in preston for having a cockney accent, developing a broad Lancashire accent and then being beaten up in Gloucestershire for being Northern. He had to quickly lose his West country burr when returning to London. Does anyone have any more tales of St Vincent’s?

  • judicat51

    I worked at St Josephs hospital Mount St nearly 30 years ago. The place was very creepy especially on night duty. One day I reported for duty the night staff were in a really frightened state. They had heard noises and what sounded like furniture moving fromthe shanty where no one ever went. The police had been called in where they found all the furniture in the rooms had been moved behing the doors and the doors had tob forced!

  • judicat51

    Incidentaly, Sr Winifride died about 3 or 4 years ago. I didnt know much about any of the other nuns but she she always seemed a lovely kind lady who was well respected. Mr Gornall was and maybe still is the previous owner. It went bust when it was a nursing home some years ago.

  • tribabe

    I was born in St Joeseph’s 50 years ago and my brother 3 years later. My son now studies at Uclan and I’ve been back to see the place. Would love to know more about it. My mum had forgotten there was an orphanage as well. When did it close as a hospital and turn into a nursing home? When did it finally close completely? Would love to hear any stories. I know that if you wanted to have your baby there in the 50′s and 60′s you had to agree to stay in for 2 weeks rest following confinement or they would not take you.

  • http://stjosephshospital judicat51

    Closed as a hospital in 1986, not quite sure when The Nursing Home closed, think it was about 15 or 16 years ago. wrote for a job but got no reply, the only nursing home Ive ever applied for a job and not been suuccessful so maybe it was going bust then! Terrible shame isn,t it, place going to rack anf ruin. Its for sale for 4 and a half million, just to be pulled down!

  • Steven Abram

    I was born there in 1950 and only found this site because I was talking to someone today who was born there 9 months after me. I see some horror stories above, they make me sad, but mine isn’t. Dad (now 91) tells me I was taken to the chapel every morning and what is odd is that I am both a Christian and a minister, the other guy I mention also is and is highly involved in the Christian church. We had this conversation in Lichfield Cathedral – the pleace I was ordained to the Church of England. There must have been some prayers and they were answered! Another odd fact is that I went to that port of Preston a couple of weeks ago to see an uncle I hadn’t seen for 0ver 30 years.

  • http://stjosephshospital Judith

    Was in town a few days ago and had a good look at the building from the out side of course! It looks in a dreadful state,every window smashed and boarded up.Heavens knows how they have managed to smash all of the upstairs ones.Really, the sooner it is demolished the better, looks like it is crying out for help!

  • Lisa Webster

    Hi there,
    I’m trying to trace my mums mum. I think she was at the orfanage(st josephs) in Preston but not sure. Her name was I think Josephine Barlow?
    Many thanks,

  • Gerrard Wilson

    I was at St Vincents in the 1940s and 1950s I do not have any pleasant memories of the place. Information about the history of St Vincents and I presume St Joseph’s orphanage can be found at the website for Catholic Caring Services Tulketh Road Preston Lancashire.
    (Google) I am a Prestonion however I did not know that St Josephs was an orphanage I only knew it as a private hospital. The Caring services haver a registry of who was resident over the years although the entries are very sketchy!!

  • http://blogprestonstjoseph's Mary Rutley

    Who needs Judas or Faustus? The former head of Social Services in Lancashire has endorsed the “service” provided to children at St Joseph’s and St Vincent’s on the Caritas Care website. How could she! The whole world knows how cruel nuns were to children, and the posts above (and on many other websites) confirm it. Furthermore, the victims were failed by social workers. Where were they when so many kiddies were being mal-treated?

    One of the nastiest nuns at my Catholic boarding school in Kent was subsequently sent to work at St Joseph’s hospital and nursing home. This horrid nun was photographed by the LEP with a bust of Maria Holland, whose good intentions were betrayed by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy. Charitable and merciful? My arse!

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  • Laura

    Hello – I’ve been reading all your comments and would like to know more about St. Joseph’s. I’ve been to the Community History Library in town, but it’d be great to know more about the individuals who have worked / lived in this building over the years. Does anyone have knowledge of any stories or records they can share with me? I’m at lshaddick@uclan.ac.uk

    Thanks :)

  • http://google vera wright, nee smith

    Hi every one , I have got some information that not many people know about ,
    Although it used to be a orphanage there was at times children there that where not orphans
    but who,s parents paid for them to be there as a boarding school , I know this as a fact as i was there from 1950 /51 for about 5or 6 years , the sister were nice except one called sister Elizabeth she was a bit tough , but we was looked After very well , our parents came most weekends to take us out and we went home for the Holidays , so no I do not have any bad memories ,

  • Mary

    If anyone from Preston, who was abused by nuns, and now needs to express his or her feelings, then go to – firetender’s blog nuns – where you will receive support from other victims from across the world.

  • katie

    Does anyone know who owns the building ?

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  • Zoe

    hello
    My dad was at the orphanage in the early ’50s, and has terrible memories of that place. i’ve heard that some people are trying for compensation, as anyone here started making a claim?

  • angela bradford

    i have today been chatting to an elderly resident in a nursing home i work in. He told me dreadful stories of how he was beaten by the nuns-he called the inhuman. This man was obviously traumatised and had mental health problems throughout his life. How sad this is and i hope those nuns had remorse later in life. i wish i knew how to help this gentleman.

  • angela

    by the way the orphanage he was so badly treated in was st vincents.

  • P C Byrom

    I recently came across this fabulous looking building, I have read all the previous comments before I wrote this and can understand peoples feelings and concerns about this place some saying it should be demolished to erradicate bad memories, But the abuse meted out by some of the nuns and whatever else happened to the children in there is not the buildings fault, this is a marvelous looking structure and should be be saved for future generations. The building was not abusive, same as guns and knives are not dangerous, it is some of the people involved with them that are dangerous and abusive

  • Judith

    In reply to Katie 24th November 2010, the building was owned by Mr Tony Gornall and as far as I know he is still the owner.

  • JC Manchester

    At the age of 12 my Mum was sent to an orphanage for catholic girls in Preston in1936 when her Mother died. I remember her telling me about it but it wasn’t called St Josephs and I cannot remember what it was called. Does anyone know the name? Her brother Francis, aged 6 at the time, went to St Vincents down the road. They lost contact for almost 70 years until we found him through the Salvation Army five years ago. They were reunited shortly before she passed away in 2008.

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappynw/sets/72157623934113041/ scrappynw

    here is my pics of the place and also some detailed history of the buildings, it was sent from preston historical society, if anybody wants to know more best get in touch with them

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappynw/sets/72157623934113041/

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  • Joseph

    I was born here in 1944 and also my brother in 1947 and my sister in 1953 are there any records to show the births at St Josephs.

  • Roy Breakell

    My grand mother and her sister were orphans at the orphanage in 1891 at that time they were 13 and 15yrs old and I trying to find out more about them

    Does any one know where you look at the records