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St Joseph's College, Upholland Sept' 16 | Oblivion State Urban Exploration

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St Joseph's College, Upholland Sept' 16

Vulex

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Upholland college was a catholic seminary (priest-training institute) Built in 1880 and opened in 1883, the first phase was built to a design by James O’Bryne. Set amongst a backdrop of copse and wildwood amidst gently sloping fields, the buildings are flanked with rough-hewn stone. An upper and lower lake are separated by a gentle and soothing waterfall. The 150 acres of land the seminary is built upon had been purchased at auction in 1877. The grandeur of the chapels, meeting rooms, fixtures and fittings was unbelievable. The seminary was closed during WW1 and reopened in 1919 along with a junior seminary. The second phase of construction commenced in 1923. The design was in a different style to the original buildings, however it was equally as grand. Landscaped gardens and sports facilities were also completed by 1927. A new chapel was added in 1930 along with 14 sub chapels. The final addition to the site was a science block. It later closed for good in 1991.​


After finding security working 24/7 on a previous attempt and our access sealed, @The Man In Black I returned a month later with a plan and a challenge to get in and out undetected. It has been a year since my first visit at the seminary and it still has that charm that sparked my interest in Urban Exploring. Looking worse for wear, but still has that something about it. I fear another 5 years of bad weather and people smashing the shit out of it and this place will more than start to resemble Ushaw.​


The Main entrance, use of this entry was forbidden by the lower students and reserved for the professors and visitors to the seminary.​




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Offices for the Professors

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The Sick Bay​





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The Forbidden Chapel​

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Lessons were held from 9am to 4.45pm (Geography classroom below)​


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The Study Hall, Students studied in there every evening from 5.30 to 7.00 in silence.​


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Dormitories, except for sleeping, these were out of bounds​


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"Magnum Silentium, Great Silence. From the first ring of the bell for night prayers until the last syllable of grace at breakfast the next day, no talking was aloud." - Vincent J. Miles,

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Some graffiti and a list of students from 1917​


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The Corridors of Upholland​


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The Snooker room, to be used by staff only​


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The sports Hall​


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The Gradwell Library, houseing priceless books known as 'The Gradwell Collection,' these are now stored at Liverpool Hope University.​



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Laundry rooms​



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Our visit was cut short after 5 hours after my good friend pulled a stick out of the cogs in the clock tower. This started the big clock chiming and alerting everybody to our presence. After the initial shock it was laughs and giggles all the way back to the car.​

We will be back to finish what we started.....​


 
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Ferox

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Cracker that mate. Interesting and informative  (y)  Sounds like a fun ending  :)

 

coolboyslim

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Now that's some cracking shots m8ty. Good stuff and great on getting in.

 

scrappy

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hahaha great report and loved the way it ended.

 

OverArch

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Probably the best report I've seen from this place.

 

Vulex

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@Andy @OverArch Thank you very much, photographing this place is a Labour of love. I just wish it wasnt so hard to access, or I would be here most weekends.

 
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