convent/nunnery — Friar Street

Detached U-plan former convent complex, built c.1830, and chapel added 1865 and enlarged 1885. Now in use as nursing home. Comprises six-bay three-storey central block with glazed porch addition, flanked by slightly-advanced gable-fronted blocks, that to northwest being eleven-bay and three-storey, rear-most four bays projecting slightly, and southeast chapel block having nine-bay double-height nave. Square-plan three-storey tower with rendered double bell-cote to rear of centre block, recent single-bay three-storey addition to northwest block with lean-to roof, and L-plan multiple-bay single-storey hipped roof addition along northwest side of chapel. Gable-fronted glazed-roof and slate porches to principal and northwest elevations respectively, with recent conservatory to latter. Pitched artificial slate roofs with rendered chimneystacks and cast-iron rainwater goods. Carved limestone cross finials and dressed limestone coping to gable-fronts and carved limestone and timber cross finials to porches. Carved limestone and cast-iron cross finials and dressed limestone coping to chapel gables. Snecked dressed limestone walls to gable-fronts, having dressed limestone quoins and plinths, chapel also having moulded limestone string course at first floor sill level and limestone plat-band to front and dressed limestone diagonal buttresses to northeast gable. All other walls are rendered. Front façade of centre block has square-headed window openings with render block-and-start surrounds and keystones, rear has camber-headed windows to second floor and square-headed elsewhere, all windows having limestone sills and timber sliding sash windows, six-over-six pane to ground and first floors and three-over-six pane to second floor. Northwest block has pointed segmental-headed window openings throughout with six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows, having cut limestone voussoirs and painted chamfered limestone block-and-start surrounds to gable-front and square-headed windows with similar frames to tower. Multi-foil opening to upper part of gable-front, with stained-glass window, painted stone surround and pointed relieving arch above having cut limestone voussoirs. Chapel has pointed-arch openings with stained-glass windows and having chamfered stone block-and-start surrounds and carved stone hood-mouldings to gable-front, with tracery to latter consisting of ogee-headed lights with trefoil lights over. Carved limestone trefoil windows set into plat-band of gable-front. Bull's eye window to upper part of gable-front with painted stone chamfered surround, stained glass and carved limestone hood-moulding. Trefoil openings to upper gables of chapel side walls. Single-storey addition to side of chapel has pointed segmental-headed window openings with one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows, some barred. Front porch has glazed timber sides on concrete plinths with coloured glazing, some Y-tracery and decorative carved timber bargeboards. Pointed segmental-arch opening to gable-front of northwest block with timber panelled door, paned over-light, painted chamfered stone block-and-start surround and cut limestone voussoirs above. Square-headed opening to front porch with replacement half-glazed timber door. Segmental-headed opening to tower to rear of centre block with replacement timber door and spoked fanlight. Chapel has pointed arch opening with decoratively chamfered dressed limestone surround, carved limestone hood-moulding and timber battened double-leaf door with decorative strap hinges. Entrance gates comprise chamfered cut limestone piers with carved limestone caps and plinths with cast-iron gates and having decorative wrought-iron arch above.