The Convent (Gibraltar)

Infobox building
building_name =The Convent
native_building_name=


caption =The Convent
former_names =Convent of Franciscan Friars
building_type =
architectural_style =early Georgian with later Victorian features being introduced
structural_system =
location =Gibraltar
owner =
current_tenants =Sir Robert Fulton (governor)
landlord =
coordinates =Coord|36.1372|-5.3536
start_date =
completion_date =1531
demolition_date =
height =
diameter =
other_dimensions =
floor_count =3
floor_area =
main_contractor =
architect =
structural_engineer =
services_engineer =
civil_engineer =
other_designers =
quantity_surveyor =
awards =

"The Convent" has been the official residence of the Governor of Gibraltar since 1728.cite web |url=http://www.gibnet.com/tourist/general.htm |title=Tourist Information |accessdate=2007-09-01 |publisher=Gibnet] It was originally a convent of Franciscan friars, hence its name, and was completed in 1531.cite web |url=http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/gov_depts/Culture/ministry_of_culture.htm |title=Ministry of Culture |accessdate=2007-09-01 |publisher=Government of Gibraltar]

The dining room at the Convent has the most extensive display of heraldry in the Commonwealth of Nations. [Bond, page. 103]

History

Franciscan friars arrived in Gibraltar during the reign of Charles I of Spain. They were granted a plot of land in the area known at the time as "La Turba" where the poorer people of Gibraltar lived. A church and a friary were built in 1531. [cite book | first = William | last = Jackson | year = 1990 | title = The Rock of the Gibraltarians. A History of Gibraltar | publisher = Gibraltar Books | edition = 2nd | location = Grendon, Northamptonshire, UK | id = ISBN 0-948466-14-6 | pages = 73] After the capture of Gibraltar by an Anglo-Dutch fleet in the name of the Archduke Charles, the Franciscan friars did not follow the exodus of the Spanish population and remained in Gibraltar, at least for some years (their presence was recorded in 1712). [cite online journal | author = Salvador Tavares, exprofessor at the University of Birmingham | year = 2006 | month = December | title = El salvador de Santa María la Coronada | journal = Revista intercultural Tres Orillas | pages = 81-86 | id = ISSN|1695-2634 | url = http://www.tres-orillas.org/index_archivos/revista/tres_orillas_7_y_8.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2008-09-27 ] The Franciscan friary was later taken over as the residence of the British governors in 1728 and has remained so ever since.

The building was heavily rebuilt during the 18^th and 19^th centuries in the Georgian style with Victorian elements.

Overview

The Convent is situated towards the southern end of Main Street. A guard mount takes place at the main entrance a few days a week conducted by soldiers of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment. The Changing of the Guard is also conducted outside the Convent a few times a year.

King's Chapel

The garrison church adjacent to the Convent, part of the original Franciscan complex, [cite web |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/697/ |title=Gibraltar defences. Application to the World Heritage List |accessdate=2008-09-28 |publisher=United Nations] was renamed Queen's Chapel during Queen Victoria's reign, but Queen Elizabeth II restored it back to its original title. Inside the chapel, beneath the colours of several British regiments, lie the remains of the wife of the Spanish governor of 1648, together with those of the British governors Charles O'Hara and Sir Colin Campbell, who were laid to rest in 1802 and 1813, respectively.

Ghost story

The convent is supposedly haunted by the ghost of a nun, known as "Lady in Grey." [Bond, page. 103] [cite web |url=http://www.thegibraltarmagazine.com/haunting.html|title=At this time of year haunting comes to mind|accessdate=2007-09-05|publisher=The Gibraltar Magazine] The legend is neither proved nor disproved, but she is said to roam the corridor outside one of the guest rooms. It is said that she considers it to be "her" room, as she was walled up alive in it. [cite book |last=Jackson |first=William |authorlink= |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=The Governor's Cat |origdate= |origyear= |origmonth= |url= |format= |accessdate=05 |accessyear=2007 |accessmonth=09 |edition=First edition |series= |date= |year=1992 |month= |publisher=Gibraltar Books Ltd |location=Northampton, United Kingdom |language= |isbn=0948466235 |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages= |chapter= |chapterurl= |quote= ]

There are various versions of the "Grey Lady" story, [Gibraltar’s Royal Governor - Dorothy Ellicott] the most popular being that she was the daughter of an affluent Spanish family who had married against her father's wishes. When he learnt of it, he placed her in the "Convent of Santa Clara" situated in the Main Street, where under the eyes of the Mother Superior, the girl was forced to take her vows and become a nun. Her lover was not discouraged; he joined the Franciscan Order and settled in the Convent. The couple are said to have met in the confessional of the King's Chapel where they hatched plans for their escape. [Bond, page. 103]

On the night of their escape they made their way to the harbour where a boat was waiting for them. However, the alarm was raised and in the ensuing chase the lover fell into the water and drowned. The bride was arrested for breaking her vows and as punishment was walled up alive in one of the rooms in the Convent. [Bond, page. 103]

ee also

*History of Gibraltar

Notes

References

*cite web |url=http://www.gibraltar.gov.uk/pdf/GIB_15_Main_Brochure_2007_9-18.pdf |title=Gibraltar tourist brochure |accessdate=2007-09-01 |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Official Government of Gibraltar London website |pages= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=
*cite web |url=http://www.gib.gi/museum/HMag%20V1%20I2%20P5.htm |title=Gibraltar’s Architecture - The Story of a People |accessdate=2007-09-01 |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2002 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Gibraltar heritage |pages=|archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=
*cite book | last=Bond | first=Peter | coauthors= | chapter=The Third Century 1904-2004 | year=2003 | month= | title=300 Years of British Gibraltar, 1704-2004 | publisher=Peter-Tan Publishing Co. | location=Gibraltar | isbn= | pages=
*cite book |last=Jackson |first=William |authorlink= |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=The Governor's Cat |origdate= |origyear= |origmonth= |url= |format= |accessdate=05 |accessyear=2007 |accessmonth=09 |edition=First edition |series= |date= |year=1992 |month= |publisher=Gibraltar Books Ltd |location=Northampton, United Kingdom |language= |isbn=0948466235 |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages= |chapter= |chapterurl= |quote=