JCB & Hitachi Excavators at work to DEMOLISH what's left of the former St Joseph's Orphanage PRESTON

Both excavators at work! Not much left of the building now, the Chapel and tower are staying and will be restored! Here is a very brief history of the place: St Joseph's Orphanage was built in 1872 and opened on 19 September that year. In 1877, St Joseph's Institute for Sick Poor (also known as Mount Street Hospital) was constructed and opened to care for the sick and poor people in Preston. The orphanage closed in 1954. Following the closure of the orphanage, the top floor of the building was used as accommodation for the nuns who were running the adjacent hospital In 1982, the sisters left nursing and Mount Street Hospital closed its doors In the 1980s, the complex was converted into a private care home. Mount Street Care Home opened in 1988. The care home continued operation for 15 years until it closed in 2003 After the care home closed in 2003, the building fell into extensive dereliction and became the victim of vandalism and fires for many years. #demolition #preston #history