Entrance arch, walled garden and glasshouse to former All Hallows Convent

Entrance arch, walled garden and glasshouse, associated with the House of Mercy, built in 1859 to the designs of Henry Woodyer.

MATERIALS: the entrance arch and walled garden are constructed of red brick, the former in Flemish bond and the latter in Monk bond. The glasshouse is constructed of red brick with a glass roof.

PLAN: the arch forms the entrance to the convent on Belsey Bridge Road. Adjoining its east side is the wall surrounding the north and east sides of the kitchen garden, and the attached glasshouse is situated at right angles to the east wall.

EXTERIOR: the tall Gothic entrance arch of two orders is set within a section of high wall with tiled saddleback coping and a dentilled cornice. To the right is a plank and batten door with a grille and strap hinge, set under a pointed brick arch and hoodmould. To the left of the archway, the wall has tumbled in brickwork where it steeply declines to the lower height of the wall that encloses the garden on the north and east sides.

The north wall, which faces the road, has a brick plinth and the same prominent coping and cornice already described. The longer east wall has saddleback coping and regularly spaced buttresses, and is stepped towards the south end as it extends up a slope. It terminates in a substantial brick pier with a pyramidal brick cap.

Approximately halfway along the east wall, and at right angles to it, is a lean-to glasshouse, possibly a forcing house. The rear wall, gable ends and plinth are of red brick, and the glazed roof has large rectangular panes set in vertical glazing bars. The rear wall is heated by two flues, the brick stacks of which rise slightly above the ridge. The glasshouse is entered on the west side by a plank and batten door with strap hinges and latch handle. Internally, the floor is laid in square clay tiles and a raised bed runs across the long south side. It is ventilated by two openings on the rear wall which retain their wooden sliding covers.