Chapel at Glenvale Convent

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Small private chapel (built 1954) aligned N-S with lower W transept linking to a later octagonal sacristy.

Shallow pitched natural slate roof with concrete cross finials to gables. Chimneybreast rises up the NE corner. Overhanging eaves with plain bargeboards. Painted dashed walls with smooth basecourse and stepped V-channelled quoins.

The front (S) gable has a single storey porch, which has a roof and walls as the main block. It has a pair of t+g sheeted doors on its left (W) cheek and a semicircular headed fixed window on its S (front) gable. Its right (E) cheek is blank. The S gable has a large circular stained glass window above the porch.

Windows to side elevations are tall and rectangular, all stained glass with sloping cills. The right (E) elevation is as follows: There are three spaced windows to the left (S) side and three grouped windows on the right (N) side.

The N gable is abutted to ground floor by a single storey block with flat roof (of no interest).

The left (W) elevation is similar to right (E) elevation with three windows spaced on its S (right) side. However, its left (N) side is abutted by the transept.

The W transept is detailed as the church proper. Its roof has a lower ridge and eaves. Its N elevation is abutted by a range of single storey buildings, which adjoin to the main accommodation (of no interest). Its S elevation has three windows. Its SW corner has a slender red brick tower with a pitched copper roof and concrete dressed vented belfry. The W gable of the transept is abutted by a later red brick link block.

The link block is glazed and flat roofed. It links the transept to the later octagonal sacristy. Sacristy is in red brick with a shallow octagonal roof with ball finial and overhanging eaves. Red brick walls have a band of horizontal windows set just below the eaves and to the NW, NE, SE and SW corners only.

Historical information

The original house is cited as 'Glenvale' on the 1834 OS 6" map and described in the 1836 Valuation book as belonging to Isaac Glenny, owner of Glenville Mills (HB16/14/031). The house's dimensions are given as 44ft 6in x 29ft x 22ft, with two wings (one 18 x 26 x 10.6, the other 18 x 26 x 12) and two returns (27 x 17 x 16 and 27 x 14 x 8). A corn and flax mill are associated (being situated a short distance to the east). Similar dimensions are given for the house in the 1862 Valuation book; the occupant is now William Glenny.

The Carmelites moved to Glenvale in the 1920s. This chapel was erected in 1954 and extended in the 1960s when the original house was demolished to make way for the present convent.

Primary sources:
1. OS 6" map, 1834, Co Down sheet 47 (PRONI OS 6/3/47/1).
2. First valuation book, 1836 (PRONI VAL 1B/389, p.317).
3. Second Valuation book, 1862 (PRONI VAL 2B/3/69D, p.267).
4. Information from occupant February 2000.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A small and plainly detailed private chapel dating from the 1950’s. Its interior was remodelled c1980.