IT will be truly the end of an era this weekend when the last patients are transferred out of Worcester's Castle Street hospital to the new state-of-the-art building in Ronkswood.
On Sunday, services will be moved over to the new Worcestershire Royal Hospital in the final part of the huge operation undertaken by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
The site will remain operational for the next week, as many out-patient appointments will still be held there, but the ancient building will finally be out of action on Tuesday, April 2.
The Castle Street site was first opened in 1746, and extra buildings were added as the years went on.
Part of the building was funded by a concert featuring "The Swedish Nightingale" Jenny Lind in 1849, and the first service was held in the chapel in 1851.
The hospital's boardroom was also the site of the inaugural meeting of the British Medical Association, held by Sir Charles Hastings in 1832.
Since its opening, the site has been used for dozens of hospital services, and housed the city's accident and emergency department for many years.
When the casualty department was moved to the Ronkswood site in 1992, Castle Street's role changed, and was used predominately for orthopaedics, trauma and a host of out-patient services.
Its fate is now unknown, as it will be transferred into the hands of the NHS Executive.
Many plans have been mooted by Worcester City Council, including a hotel, museum and apartments.
But most of the building will always remain standing, as the BMA was successful in campaigning for listed building status for the oldest parts of the site, the chapel, and the boardroom, where the first meeting was held.
Canon Lisle Ryder, who has been working with the hospital for the past 16 years, said it would be sad to say goodbye to the site.
"There is something rather special about the Castle Street site and the chapel, as they contain part of the history of Worcester," he said.
"There are certainly staff for whom it is very special and I am sure they will feel it when the move is over.
"I just hope the building, especially the chapel, will be used for something appropriate."
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