The Convent in Orwell Road
I was brought up in a Convent in Orwell Road between the years 1947 and 1954. The Convent was vacated in the summer of 1954 and moved to Hastings a year after the sea wall broke which demolished the old school in Harwich.
When I visited the convent again in 1980 it was still there, only standing derelict. I wondered if the building was still standing.
Ruth Wright
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RE: RE: The Convent in Orwell Road
I and my sister were at a convent in Dovercourt from about 1945 till 1950, I have often wondered if it was still running. Opposite the convent there was what we all called the sea garden, from there you could see the walkway at the side of the sea, the garden itsself was at the top of the cliffs. The nuns' headgear was a veil over a very crinkly white thingy, I wonder if it was the same convent. In the summer we would ofen go swimming, we also used to sing in the church choir, in those days the mass was in Latin.
Comment from Martina Roberts on Tuesday, 12th January 2010.
RE: RE: The Convent in Orwell Road
The convent building at the end of Orwell Terrace became dilapidated in the 1980s and was demolished. Only the site remains.
Pete
Comment from Peter Voss on Tuesday, 12th January 2010.
RE: RE: The Convent in Orwell Road
I read from Peter Voss that the convent in Orwell Road Dovercourt is now demolished. I feel so sad about that.
Martina Robert's memories of the convent are just as I rmember. The black and white colours of the nun's habit was very distinctive and often frightening! I don't remember you Martina. But do you remember Netta Damiani and her sister? Netta was my Godmother. I was baptised soon after I entered the convent aged 3 years
In a moment of reflection I wrote the following poem about the convent:
DOVERCOURT.
You stood tall and stately
In your stubborn gentle silence.
You shone in the sun dazzling white.
Against the elements you were my defence,
And comfort in the long dark night.
Tempestuous storms would rage
When the roar from the great oak tree,
And the shouting wind and rain
Provoked the wildness of the sea.
You still stand tall and stately
Though the years have weathered your walls.
There's a silence now and a sadness too
As the breeze round your emptiness falls.
I remember the warm glowing fires;
The scent of the Christmas tree tall;
The warm spring days and cool sea-breeze
Wafting wallflower scent from the sea-wall.
From the Glass-House overlooked the Sea-Garden
That in May was decorated with flowers
And parents and adults and people from the town
Would sing and chant for hours.
Father Hayes processed in front with incense
And we in white would follow
Singing 'Ave, Ave, Ave Maria'
Echoing sounds now in your sorrow.
There's still as air of pride and majesty
Even though you've been misused,
And there's still the echo of children's voices
from the garden as a car-park now used. (1987)
Comment from Ruth Wright on Thursday, 14th January 2010.