Former St Joseph's House Chapel, Walkley, Sheffield

Image: © David Hallam-Jones Taken: 19 Feb 2018

This Grade II-listed former Roman Catholic chapel - with school rooms beneath it - was built 1872. However, a residential Catholic reformatory, at the opposite end of the chapel, preceded it, opening in 1861 in a former boarding school building called "Howard House". Later, between 1887-1931, the St Joseph's school premises became a residential “Industrial School for Roman Catholic Girls”. Still later, after a period of closure, it reopened in 1934 as St Joseph’s House for Mentally Handicapped Women and Girls, receiving referrals from across Gt. Britain. By this time additional buildings had been added on site. In 1971 its management was assumed by the Sheffield Health Board, although the Sisters of Charity continued to staff it. In 1974 however, the nuns withdraw their services at the time that the more stringent regulations relating to meeting the educational needs of individuals with learning difficulties came into being. These facilities closed permanently in 1983 and the buildings are currently occupied by a Buddhist community. (See also: http://saintjosephshome.weebly.com/download-the-booklet.html). Although the South Yorkshire Housing Association were refused permission to convert the chapel into apartments, they were allowed to build a several rows of houses on the site, many of which have their front doors and windows facing the chapel.

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