The Priory

The fine Georgian house next door to the church is the priory where the Carmelite friars live. Known today as “Whitefriars”, it is the oldest building on the site and rated as an ancient monument. It stands on the steep slope that drops from the level of Tanners Street down to the banks of the West Brook (on which stand the Shrine office buildings, the Shrine Information Centre, the Shrine Welcome Centre, the remains of an orchard and the car park).  

From the deeds of adjoining properties it appears that the house was build about 1740 by John Gilbert, who died in 1746. He was a tanner by trade, so the name of the street is no misnomer; evidently his business was prosperous to afford such a splendid new home. His tan yard, it seems, was originally where the church car park now is, but was moved elsewhere, and the site became a kitchen garden. The house was extensively remodelled inside for use by the governesses (teachers) when the School (now the church) was built in 1861, but outside remains as it was. It is built to a plan. A good, spacious, well lit sitting room in front, with a small bedroom at the back. It is interesting to observe that for sleeping purposes, school teachers, in those days, did not require over much cubic space.