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Heritage at Risk(v1.0)
GOOD SHEPHERD CONVENT COMPLEX ORMEAU ROAD BELFAST


HB Ref No:
HB26/01/062 A

Address
GOOD SHEPHERD CONVENT COMPLEX ORMEAU ROAD BELFAST

Townland:

Status:
Currently at Risk

Listing Grade:
B1


HARNI Number:
HARNI 26/01/004

Conservation Area:
No

Condition:
Fair

Industrial Archeology:

Occupancy:
Partially Occupied

Vernacular:

Degree of Risk:
High

Thatched:
No

Availability:
Unknown

Monument:

Current Building Use:

Derelict:


Description

The Convent of the Good Shepherd Complex is located on the Ormeau Road and enclosed behind a random rubble wall with railings. A newspaper report on the day of the dedication of the convent notes that it was built of Scrabo sandstone with door and windows of Dundonald sandstone in 1880, to designs by architect Alexander MacAlister, built by Messrs Silo and Mathews. Further additions occurred in 1901 when the three-storey brick building was built to the designs of William Henry Byrne. The OS County Series 3rd edition map (1900) shows the Convent of the Good Shepherd and the associated Church of the Sacred Heart complex. The 4th edition map (1905) shows additional buildings forming its current extent. The complex was bought by Choice Housing in 2019 and there are plans to alter the building and use it for offices. The building is in a fair condition with few obvious signs of decay. There is some light vegetation growth to one of the chimneys and evidence of mortar failing between some brick joints. Suitable repairs to the mortar would save future costly repairs. Ref - LA04/2020/1901/F, Britain from above XAW051687, Belfast Morning News - Tuesday 25 May 1880, Building Database HB26/01/062A