St Joseph's Convent

ST JOSEPH'S CONVENT, SOUTH ROAD

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1276422
Date first listed:
04-Jul-1975
List Entry Name:
St Joseph's Convent
Statutory Address:
ST JOSEPH'S CONVENT, SOUTH ROAD

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Location

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Date:
2002-09-02
Reference:
IOE01/07431/27
Rights:
© Mr R.M Rayner. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1276422
Date first listed:
04-Jul-1975
List Entry Name:
St Joseph's Convent
Statutory Address 1:
ST JOSEPH'S CONVENT, SOUTH ROAD

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
ST JOSEPH'S CONVENT, SOUTH ROAD

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Somerset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Taunton
National Grid Reference:
ST 23233 24139

Details

SOUTH ROAD 1. 5365 (West Side) St Joseph's Convent ST 2324 SW 14/7 II* GV 2. A large complex of attached buildings with considerable architectural interest. Originally part was built as a hospital of which the foundation stone was laid in 1772. Designs of 1775 by P Stowey of Exeter (Colvin p 573). Acquired 1807 by Franciscan nuns, refugees from Bruges. They extended the buildings in 1811 and subsequently. The considerable Victorian additions are by J A Hansom (1803-82). Main block consists of a large symmetrical early Cl9 red brick house with later central range in yellow brick and bowed end projecting to east. Stone dressings. 3 storeys plus attic storey on south side. Cornice and parapet. Plain band over 1st floor. Original sash windows with glazing bars to lower floors. North and south elevations retain wrought iron balconettes to 1st floor windows. Further range attached on south-west corner with arcaded ground floor. This block retains a tall 2 stage bell tower with lead roof, corbelled eaves and weather vane. C19 Gothic chapel attached on north side of main block. Red brick with ashlar dressings. Parapet and slate roof. Buttresses divide the main windows which are at 1st floor level. Style of tracery is Decorated, the east window being triangular with 3 traceried oculi under hoodmould. West side of the chapel is abutted by an early C19 block with tall 2 storey entrance porch with twin arches. To the east of the chapel is a Victorian Gothic cloister with 2 walks. Pointed arched open to the cloister garth with large nook shafts and foliated capitals. The walks inside have scissor-trussed open timber roofs. A 2 storey range with open arcade is returned from the chapel to join the north cloister walk. Modern extension to south is not included.

St Joseph's Convent, Summerhouse in grounds, and stone walls to the grounds form a group.

Listing NGR: ST2323324139

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
269885
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Colvin, H M, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, (1978), 573

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of St Joseph's Convent

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 11-Jul-2026 at 20:51:22.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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