St Josephs Orphanage

PRESTON

SD5329SE THEATRE STREET 941-1/11/277 (West side) 20/04/88 St Joseph's Orphanage

II

Orphanage, now nursing home. 1872, by R.W.Hughes for patron Mrs Maria Holland. Red brick in English bond with blue brick and sandstone ashlar dressings, Welsh slate roof. L-plan formed by main range on east-west axis facing north and long chapel wing projecting on the east side, with porch tower in angle. High Victorian Gothic style. Two storeys with basements and attics. Tower has main entrance in base, with 2-centred moulded stone arch under blue-red brick relieving arch, panelled door and overlight (plain glass replacing stained glass), buttress to right, and plaque above door lettered "St Joseph's Orphanage / Erected and endowed by / Mrs Maria Holland / 1872"; 2 lancet windows below the belfry stage which has offset angle buttresses and louvred 2-light openings with colonettes and 2-centred relieving arch, and a 2-stage pyramidal spire interrupted by mid-height windows. The main range has a gabled centre breaking forwards, with a projected ground floor lit by transomed windows beneath a band of cross motifs, 2 pairs of arched windows at 1st floor each with a recessed oculus beneath the relieving arch, an oculus above with a hoodmould, and a half-hipped roof; and its outer bays have 2-centred arches to the ground floor windows, and small segmental-headed windows beneath ornamented brick eaves. The chapel wing to the left has large arched 2-light windows with original patterned glazing, and one has stained glass. Rear elevation is symmetrical, in similar style, with gabled ends and centre, and has (inter alia) a statue in a canopied niche. Hospital wings added to east end and attached to west end.

Listing NGR: SD5368829152