St Joseph'S Convent

St Joseph's Convent is a large complex of attached buildings with significant architectural interest. Originally part of a hospital, the foundation stone was laid in 1772, with designs from 1775 by P Stowey of Exeter. The site was acquired in 1807 by Franciscan nuns who were refugees from Bruges, and they extended the buildings in 1811 and later. The substantial Victorian additions were designed by J A Hansom.

The main block features a large symmetrical early 19th century red brick house, with a later central range in yellow brick and a bowed end projecting to the east. It has stone dressings, three storeys plus an attic on the south side, a cornice, and a parapet. There is a plain band above the first floor, and original sash windows with glazing bars on the lower floors. The north and south elevations have wrought iron balconettes on the first floor windows.

Attached to the south-west corner is a further range with an arcaded ground floor, which includes a tall two-stage bell tower with a lead roof, corbelled eaves, and a weather vane. On the north side of the main block is a 19th century Gothic chapel made of red brick with ashlar dressings, featuring a parapet and slate roof. The chapel has buttresses that divide the main windows at first floor level, with Decorated style tracery; the east window is triangular with three traceried oculi under a hoodmould.

To the west of the chapel is an early 19th century block with a tall two-storey entrance porch featuring twin arches. To the east of the chapel is a Victorian Gothic cloister with two walks, which has pointed arches open to the cloister garth, large nook shafts, and foliated capitals. The interior walks have scissor-trussed open timber roofs. A two-storey range with an open arcade connects from the chapel to the north cloister walk. A modern extension to the south is not included in the listing.

St Joseph's Convent, the summerhouse in the grounds, and the stone walls surrounding the grounds form a cohesive group.