St. Katharine's Convent

St. Katharine's Convent is a mansion, originally dating to around 1770-80, with substantial additions made between 1893 and 1903 by Charles Alfred Cripps. It was initially the home of the Doyle family. The original, southern section is constructed of red brick with tuck pointing, featuring a concealed roof behind a parapet with stone coping and late 19th-century wrought iron railings. It has two storeys and four bays. The outer bays have bowed projections, each with three, three-pane sashes on the first floor. The ground floor to the right features similar sashes flanking 19th-century French doors, while the ground floor to the left has four-pane sashes flanking a blocked opening. The central part of the original section has two three-pane sashes on the first floor, and a late 19th-century projection below, also with a parapet and three glazed arches. All original window openings have gauged heads. Later extensions are of red brick with a stone-coped parapet and railings, with some red sandstone dressings.

A wing set back to the left, dated 1903 on the rainwater heads, has four bays of sashes and French doors, and incorporates a banqueting hall at the left end, which has a three-bay arcaded verandah of red sandstone on its left side. The entrance front, facing east, features a central gabled feature with a cornice and scrolled pediment, alongside a porch projection resembling a porte-cochere. A projecting block to the right has a hipped roof, moulded modillion eaves and gabled dormers, with another entry located in the angle.

The interior of the two late 18th-century ground floor rooms has delicate plaster ceilings, modillion cornices, contemporary fireplaces, and dado panelling. The centre room features contemporary doorcases, while the right room has a segmental arched doorcase and shelves flanking the fireplace. Areas dating to around 1900 have Jacobean interiors. The banqueting hall, now serving as a chapel, has a ribbed pendant ceiling, and the staircase features pierced panels.