EPW019134 ENGLAND (1927). Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, 1927

The street immediately behind the rear of the Infirmary linking it to Upper brook St was Lorne St. We lived in the last house at no 14. The space to the right on Upper brook St itself was Holberry's Garage and funeral directors and the buildings were where they made the coffins. The Holberrys were friends of my parents

The original two towers of the Infirmary can be seen here before one was destroyed in WW11. Next to the hospital on the right is Union Chapel, it was erected in 1869 and was sometimes referred to as the ''Nonconformist Cathedral of Lancashire'. The Rev. Alexander McLaren served in Manchester at the Union Chapel, Oxford Road for a total of 45 years, from 1858 until 1903, he was considered one of the most important preachers in the country. The Sunday and mid-week sermons by the Rev McLaren drew a packed and influential congregation including bankers, merchants, and manufacturers, MPs, writers, artists, students and fellow ministers, artisans, and clerks. The last service was in 1939, the chapel being purchased by Manchester Royal Infirmary so that the hospital could be enlarged. The war delayed these plans and the Chapel was finally demolished in 1950.