Last month, @clebby gave @SpiderMonkey and I the heads-up on this place and after a quick Google we decided to head down to Worcester at the next available opportunity. We noticed a few people had tried before, only to find active security scuppering their success, so we were slightly apprehensive about what we may have to deal with. It would seem we got lucky with timing and found it relatively relaxed. Clebby was kind enough to grace us with his presence later on in the day, sans tripod.
I fully expected this one to have received extensive tourbus treatment by now, but other than our visit and Clebby's subsequent revisit, avec tripod and friends, I've not seen anything else. The buildings are used for various police training exercises and according to the signing-in book, they have numerous visitors throughout the week. I hear a group went during the subsequent week and were greeted by an unhappy owner inside, with claims of hidden cameras... God knows!
History
St Mary’s Convent School was originally Battenhall Mount, an impressive house built around 1865-9 for William Spriggs, a Quaker and Worcester Clothier, in the Italianate style popularised by Prince Albert. In the 1890s the house was enlarged in a matching style by the architect John Henry Williams of Worcester for the Hon. Alfred Percy Allsopp. Allsopp was a local brewer who owned the Star Hotel and was Mayor of Worcester in 1892, 1894 and 1905. The original house is now incorporated into the South West corner of the property.
The building was used as a convalescent home during the First World War. It then became the home of the Sisters of St. Marie Madeleine Postel, a Roman Catholic Teaching Order, in 1933. St. Mary’s was a popular and well-regarded independent nursery and school until its closure in 2014.
I fully expected this one to have received extensive tourbus treatment by now, but other than our visit and Clebby's subsequent revisit, avec tripod and friends, I've not seen anything else. The buildings are used for various police training exercises and according to the signing-in book, they have numerous visitors throughout the week. I hear a group went during the subsequent week and were greeted by an unhappy owner inside, with claims of hidden cameras... God knows!
History
St Mary’s Convent School was originally Battenhall Mount, an impressive house built around 1865-9 for William Spriggs, a Quaker and Worcester Clothier, in the Italianate style popularised by Prince Albert. In the 1890s the house was enlarged in a matching style by the architect John Henry Williams of Worcester for the Hon. Alfred Percy Allsopp. Allsopp was a local brewer who owned the Star Hotel and was Mayor of Worcester in 1892, 1894 and 1905. The original house is now incorporated into the South West corner of the property.
The building was used as a convalescent home during the First World War. It then became the home of the Sisters of St. Marie Madeleine Postel, a Roman Catholic Teaching Order, in 1933. St. Mary’s was a popular and well-regarded independent nursery and school until its closure in 2014.
Italianate styled interior, matching the external appearance...
Moving into the music room, which was just as impressive with its large fireplace
And this drawing room!
Entrance lobby and top of the tower
Moving further, we find the later addition of buildings that forms the main concentration of classrooms
Yes, we tried it out!
Moving into the music room, which was just as impressive with its large fireplace
And this drawing room!
Entrance lobby and top of the tower
Moving further, we find the later addition of buildings that forms the main concentration of classrooms
Yes, we tried it out!
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