St. Mawgan, Lanherne Carmelite Convent

Introduction

Saint Mawgan, Lanherne Carmelite Convent in Newquay has been a Carmelite convent since 1794.

History

The house was built by one of the earlier Arundells, whose family had held the manor since 1231. The building is said to have been refaced at the back by Sir Christopher Wren. The building is a Carmelite convent, formerly the house of the Arundell family. The building dates from the early sixteenth century, possibly including earlier building, with additions of the seventeenth century and a rear range of late seventeenth century, circa 1700.

Architecture and furnishings

The front rainwater heads are dated BRF 1708. The chapel was added in the C19 at the right end of the front range. The building is of slatestone rubble with granite dressings, with a slate roof with crested ridge tiles and gable ends. The rear range is in coursed stone rubble with a slate roof, gable ends and modillion eaves cornice.

The plan has two parallel ranges to the front, with the inner range appearing to be the first and a parallel range built in front circa mid to late sixteenth century. The front is 2-storey, an asymmetrical range in 3 builds. The first range to left has 4 windows; ground floor has panelled double doors with 4-centred arched fanlight, moulded surround with cushion stops, brick and stone relieving arch. To the centre are 2 similar 2-light windows with hood moulds and an image niche between.

There is a pair of fine rainwater heads in lead, dated 1717. At first floor to right is a 3-light granite window with cusped lights and hood mould. The building has a granite cornice with lead top, embattled, with a frieze. The next build to right has ground floor 8-light window, hollow-chamfered, with 4-centred arch, king mullion and floating cornice; corbelled out above with similar 8-light window which has a blind angled light at the left side.

Attached to the front of the chapel is a low garden wall with a re-used 4-centred arched granite doorway. Set back to end right is a chapel porch, of single storey with loft, with 4-centred arched doorway with double plank doors and image niche above. The later range to right has panelled double doors in rusticated surround with floating cornice. At first floor of the later range are three 19th-century mullion and transom windows and early 18th-century sashes.

The rear is a symmetrical 9-bay front of 2 storeys on cellar with moulded plinth and attic. The cellar windows are 2-light, in granite, with chamfered mullions, segmental arch with keystone. Ground floor has mullion and transom windows with 21 panes below and 9 panes above, with L hinges, segmental arch and keystones. First floor has early 18th-century 32-pane sashes with thick glazing bars and voussoirs.

There is a 3-storey addition at the centre with door, 2-light casement of first and second floor. The building has a cupola with clock, ogee lead roof with weathervane. The house is said to contain good plasterwork, and an arched-brace roof may survive over the wing along the left side.