Convent of Mercy

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three storey (+ basement) seven bay symmetrical Lombardic Neo-Romanesque granite building on the east side of Catherine Street set back and railed off from the street.

Natural slate hipped roof is double piled with central valley running parallel with façade. Roof projects slightly to left and right (over first and seventh bays). Overhanging eaves to front elevation supported by cast iron brackets. There are six (one between each of the windows) to the central block and there are two (one to each side of windows) to each advanced end bay.

There are three cement rendered chimneys with overhanging concrete copings to the front pitch. One to party wall between second and third bays, a second (its mirror) between fifth and sixth bays. The third is lower and deeper and situated between sixth and seventh bays. To central valley is a louvred ventilator stack (square in section) with swept leaded pagoda roof with a cross finial. To right pitch, rising from wall head are single rendered and coped chimneys. To rear pitch there are three concrete coped cement rendered chimneys. First breaks roof ridge and continues into valley between first and second bays (as viewed from rear). The second also breaks ridge and is on party wall between fourth and fifth bay from left. Third is lower and centred behind roof vent. Semi circular metal rainwater goods with cast iron downpipes to inner cheeks of advanced bays.

Wall to west elevation (façade) is of coursed squared granite rubble and has been repointed. Wall is raised to basement and between basement and ground floor is a projecting canted granite stringcourse. Advanced bays have V-channelled stepped render quoins to corners (not to basement).

Main entrance is to central (fifth) bay. A single granite step from street leads to a granite paved entrance platform which is enclosed to left and right by cast iron spear headed railings set on an ogee moulded ashlar granite plinth. Front door consists of a pair of modern three panelled (raised and fielded) stained timber doors. Door is flanked by squared ¾-attached granite pillars with coved capitals and set on a square plinth. There are similarly detailed pilasters to each opening reveal, and between the pillars and pilasters are glazed sidelights with painted granite cills and painted rendered aprons on ashlar granite skirtings. That to left has a wrought iron bootscraper. Pillars and pilasters support a moulded granite entablature, over which is a semicircular radial cobweb fanlight with outer ring of seven large glazed hoops. All are set within a two-stepped semicircular headed opening with painted stepped granite ashlar quoins with painted stepped archivolt. Instepped reveals and intrados are similarly painted. A gilded and painted iron Celtic cross is attached to granite entablature.

All windows to façade are painted timber sliding sashes without horns, with granite cills and stepped render jambs and archivolt. Those to first floor share a continuous moulded granite cill course. Those to main block (excluding advanced wings) are as follows: To left and right of main entrance at ground floor are three equally spaced 6/6 radial headed windows. To first floor there are seven 6/6 equally spaced windows, in line with openings below. These have radiused heads and are set within a semicircular headed opening the head of which is rendered. There are seven equally spaced windows to second floor, in line with openings below. These are diminished in height and 6/6 with shouldered heads set within segmental headed openings the heads of which are rendered.

The advanced bays to left and right are mirror image. All windows to this bay as those to the main block but narrower (a very narrow central panes to each sash.).

To ground floor is a pair of 6/6 windows with radial headed fanlight, all recessed within a semicircular headed opening with rendered infilling. To first floor are two 9/6 windows with radial head recessed within a similar rendered semicircular headed opening. The continuous cill course from first floor of central block continues to serve this floor. To second floor there a pair of 6/6 windows recessed within rendered segmental headed openings.

Basement wall is as façade. All windows are sliding sashes with granite cills and stepped brick jambs and heads, and painted render reveals and intrados. Openings from left to right are as follows: To left, entered in advanced bay is a t+g sheeted painted timber door with six paned segmental headed transom light (with security grill) over. To right of door a small section of jamb is countersunk to accommodate a bell push. To basement of main block, to left side of main entrance are three 6/6 windows. To basement centre the front entrance platform is supported on cement rendered walls, the right one having a glazed painted plywood door where it meets main building. To basement right of main entrance are three windows as those to left. To right (advanced) bay is a single 6/6 semicircular headed window with similar details as previous openings.

Basement area passage is paved and accessed by a flight of granite steps off street to left of façade. Basement area is enclosed at street level by cast iron spear headed railings set on an ogee shaped ashlar granite plinth with two urn-topped cast-iron posts to either ends. As the ground falls to right, so railings and plinth step down accordingly. Gate to left (leading to basement steps) is flanked by similar posts and is made up of similar spiked railings on a frame.

Flanking entrance platform, in addition to the urn-topped posts, is a pair of later elaborately scrolled cylindrical wrought iron entrance posts, supporting a wrought iron overthrow archway emblazoned with CONVENT OF MERCY in gilt lettering and topped with wrought iron work and a gilt cross. Entrance posts support a pair of wrought iron gates in a similar style, the right style of the left gate rises high and terminates in a wrought iron cross.

North elevation is abutted by two post war buildings. The remaining wall is lined rendered and centred to second floor (just below eaves) are a pair of painted timber segmentally headed sliding sash windows, the one to the left is 4/2 and the one to the right has a lower cill and is 4/4.

Both extensions run parallel with façade, that to front projects out to street level and that to rear sits back slightly from rear elevation. Both have pitched natural slate roofs with boxed eaves and semicircular metal rain water goods, their walls are of rusticated concrete blockwork, and their left gables are cement wet-dashed. Façade of front block (to street) has painted horizontal t+g sheeted timber door with transom to ground floor left and three modern six paned windows to remaining wall. To first floor, in line with openings below are four paned casement windows. All have concrete cills and heads and have modern security grills over. Left gables to front block is wet dashed and devoid of openings, and right gable is as façade. Rear elevation was not inspected. Rear block fronts rear elevation and is exposed to basement level. Neither basement or ground floor were inspected and there are four windows (as front block) to each floor. Its exposed gable is wet dashed with two windows to first floor right and similar to second floor. Its rear wall seems to have a similar opening configuration. It is believed that front and rear blocks are linked at ground floor by a flat roofed corridor.

Rear elevation basement is at ground level due to the sloping topography of the site. Wall is coursed rubble granite as façade, with similar basement string course, but has no advanced bays. There are ten openings to each floor. All windows are sliding sashes with rendered jambs and heads and granite cills.

There are eight 6/6 basement windows, with the sixth and tenth openings being doorways. Sixth is a painted timber and glass door leading to a single storey rendered porch. Porch is flat roofed, behind a rendered blocking course and its walls are painted lined render with rendered pilasters to each corner and a 2/1 semicircular headed, margin paned painted timber sliding sash window with horns and granite cill. There is a second similar window to left cheek. To right cheek is a four panelled painted timber door with semicircular headed fanlight over.

Obscuring the tenth opening (a door) is a porch. It has a monopitched natural slate roof falling to right, with are smooth rendered with painted rendered rear gable and an unpainted rendered right cheek. Rear wall has a doorway and steps to a cloister which encloses garden to rear. Right cheek has a pair cast iron lancet headed windows. Between these two is a niche containing a statue.

The ten ground floor windows are 6/6 with radial heads, with the exception of the sixth window from left (over porch) which is stained glass. The seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth windows are additionally margin paned to add decorative effect. To first floor there are ten 6/6 windows, in line with those below but diminished in height. Those to second floor are identical but further diminished in height.

Rear garden is symmetrical and lawned with three levels of mature flowerbeds linked by flights of granite steps, flanked by decorative urns. To top level is a subterranean well with steps down. The bottom level contains a small graveyard with large Celtic cross in granite to centre. All graves are marked by Celtic crosses in wrought iron and enclosed by a chamfered ashlar granite plinth supporting attractive cast and wrought iron railings.

Cloister to right boundary of garden steps down hill with garden. It has a pitched natural slate roof with semicircular metal rainwater goods. Right wall and end gable (at bottom of garden) is rendered masonry and its left cheek is open, supported by chamfered painted timber posts on granite blocks. Eaves have painted vertical t+g boards, each cut to a point for decorative effect. Internally its floor is a chequer board of cream and brown terracotta tiles and steps are granite.

Right elevation is abutted to centre by a two-storey link to the chapel (see HB16/25/001B). Remaining wall is painted and rendered with façade quoins (to left) painted over. The exposed basement to left (façade) is devoid of openings and to right (rear) is a modern timber canted bay window with felt roof. To ground floor left is a narrow sliding sash window with radial head detailed as those to right advanced bay on ground floor of façade. There are similar windows above to first and second floor left. To ground floor right, over canted bay is a 6/6 sliding sash with radial head. To its left is a smaller 4/4 sliding sash window with radial head. To first floor right is a 6/6 sliding sash window (as those to same level at rear) and to second floor is a similar window. To second floor centre (over link block) are five window openings. The two to left are tall 4/4 sliding sashes with segmental heads and the three to right are small 4/2 sliding sashes.

Historical information

Not shown on O.S. 1835 town map. Appears on 1863 map, indicating a mid 19th century construction date (HMBB card says c.1862). Valuation Book of 1863 describes it as ‘Convent of Mercy’, the principal building measuring 33.5yds x 17yds x 3 storeys + basement. A one-storey chapel is also cited, but it must have been contained within the main block as nothing is shown on either the 1861 or 1873 town maps where the present chapel (HB16/25/001B) now stands. The Valuation Revision book notes that since 1865 part of the convent was used as a school; it comprised two classrooms, library and corridor. The present chapel is shown on the 1903 town map, and is cited as “Emmanuel R.C. Church”. It was therefore built sometime between 1873 and 1903, although not explicitly cited in the valuation revision books (internal style of chapel suggests c.1900)

delist/relist 06/07/2001 Convent and Chapel relisted seperately
Sources:

1. PRONI – VAL 1D/3/8E (1835 valuation map);
2. OS 6" map (1861/73) Co Down Sheet 46 (PRONI - OS 9/15/2/7);
3. PRONI - VAL 2B/2/39B, p.48 (2nd valuation);
4. PRONI - VAL 12B/15/1A, p.186 (valuation revision book);
5. PRONI - VAL 12E/125/4/1 (1903 map);
6. HMBB survey card dated 6 Nov 1969.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

This building is a fine example of the Lombardic Neo-romanesque style and its scale makes it the architectural focus of the street. The landscaped gardens provide a formal setting.