This is my first foray into exploration - I needed something fairly local and something that did not require too much acrobatics to access as I'm due to get a few pins into a broken wrist this week (hopefully) and this seemed to fit the bill.
As i approached the site a guy was coming the other way carrying a tripod, so I says hello, what you up to, and it transpires he's from the local paper and arranging a meeting to get some pictures before it's all taken down. On arrival sure enough there are banners & signs for a new development of houses & a dozen or so guys working the site, including a large JCB type affair tearing down one of the more modern buildings on the site. I took a long walk around and it seems that the hospital is outside of that development, at least for now, and judging by what they had fenced off, but if you want a look around some of the other buildings, you'll need to get your skates on from the look of things.
As for the hospital part, it's looking a bit bare compared to some of the excellent reports I have seen on here, quite a few things appear to be missing, but as a first effort for me I really enjoyed it. I also popped into a couple the buildings that are on the new development, including a long shed that had a paint scheme that wouldn't look out of place in the Caribbean.
Some processing on a few of the photo's, hoping to reduce that with practice.
Thanks for looking.
As i approached the site a guy was coming the other way carrying a tripod, so I says hello, what you up to, and it transpires he's from the local paper and arranging a meeting to get some pictures before it's all taken down. On arrival sure enough there are banners & signs for a new development of houses & a dozen or so guys working the site, including a large JCB type affair tearing down one of the more modern buildings on the site. I took a long walk around and it seems that the hospital is outside of that development, at least for now, and judging by what they had fenced off, but if you want a look around some of the other buildings, you'll need to get your skates on from the look of things.
As for the hospital part, it's looking a bit bare compared to some of the excellent reports I have seen on here, quite a few things appear to be missing, but as a first effort for me I really enjoyed it. I also popped into a couple the buildings that are on the new development, including a long shed that had a paint scheme that wouldn't look out of place in the Caribbean.
The Birmingham Diocesan Rescue Society for the Protection of Homeless and Friendless Catholic Children was established in 1902 with Father Hudson as its first Secretary and Administrator. Father Hudson remained in Coleshill from 1898 until 1934. During that time the work of the Rescue Society grew, in particular the children’s homes. Its expansion included St. Vincent’s, a home for working boys in Moseley Road Birmingham, St. Edwards Boys Home, St George’s and St. James’ Cottage Homes for boys and St Gerard’s hospital for children in Coleshill. St. Gerard’s was the result of Father Hudson’s vision for a purpose built infirmary, not just for the boys of St. Edwards but for those from all Catholic homes in the Diocese and the Catholic children from the workhouse hospitals. Two new schools were established in Coleshill through the Society. Father Hudson’s devotion to the children, his patience, energy and great administrative skills guided this development and the Rescue Society became known colloquially as Father Hudson’s Homes…
St Gerard’s Orthopaedic Hospital was part of Father Hudson’s Society buildings across the UK. It provided services for locals and the neighbouring boys school, along with care for orphaned kiddies of early to mid 1900′s. The chain of society buildings started to close in the 1980′s, due to changes in NHS funding and how orphaned children were dealt with as a whole. St Gerard’s closed in 1988.
And a few from my quick recce onto the fenced off area.
St Gerard’s Orthopaedic Hospital was part of Father Hudson’s Society buildings across the UK. It provided services for locals and the neighbouring boys school, along with care for orphaned kiddies of early to mid 1900′s. The chain of society buildings started to close in the 1980′s, due to changes in NHS funding and how orphaned children were dealt with as a whole. St Gerard’s closed in 1988.
And a few from my quick recce onto the fenced off area.
Some processing on a few of the photo's, hoping to reduce that with practice.
Thanks for looking.
