St Mary's Convent, Brentford, London
10, The Butts, Brentford, Greater London, TW8 8BQ
St Mary’s Convent in the Butts, Brentford is in an area described by Nikolaus Pevsner as architecturally ‘the most rewarding part of Brentford’; the Butts comprises an enclave of historic buildings now a conservation area. The core of the convent building is a high-status Georgian domestic building, formerly known as 'Egglesfield House', dating originally from 1764, with many attractive original features surviving, including beautiful decorative plasterwork, and with modern care homes now an integral part of the beautifully landscaped site. The building has been a convent since 1880, and many additions have been made over the years, including a beautiful small chapel in a modern style by PRP Architects (1998-2001). The founder of the convent was Frances Margaret Taylor (1832-1900), a remarkable woman who served as a volunteer nurse with Florence Nightingale and later established a community of Catholic Sisters called the Poor Servants of the Mother of God, largely to provide material and spiritual support to the urban poor. Developments on the site are related to the caring works of the Sisters carried on to the present day, which have included schooling, and the care of orphans, the elderly and those with learning difficulties.
The event consists of three guided tours throughout the day, focusing on the history and architecture of the site, and the life and work of the convent community over the years, including displays of artworks and historic artefacts.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 20 September:
- Guided tours: 1000, 1200 & 1500
Location & directions
10, The Butts, Brentford, Greater London, TW8 8BQ
- Directions:
- St. Mary’s Convent is ten minutes walk from Brentford railway station, served regularly by trains from London Waterloo and Weybridge. The nearest tube stations are Boston Manor and Northfields. Buses: 235, 237, 267, E2, E8. There is no car parking on site, but there is metered parking in The Butts and a multi-storey car park nearby on Brentford High Street.
- Contact on day:
- Paul Shaw
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking required
- Booking conditions:
- Booking and any enquiries via the archivist, Mr Paul Shaw, by phone or email
- Booking contact name:
- Paul Shaw
- Booking telephone number:
- +442085687305
- Booking email:
- [email protected]
- Booking opens:
- 13 Jun 2025 12:00 PM
- Booking closes:
- 19 Sep 2025 05:00 PM
Accessibility details
Due to the age of the site there are a number of small flights of steps and a few changes of levels which need to be negotiated by visitors. Those with accessibility issues should please raise them when booking.
Additional information
The day offers a rich combination of historical artefacts, displays of archives and art works, and a verdant landscaped setting. Visitors will have a warm welcome, but we do ask that they respect the privacy and harmony of the convent and care homes. For this reason, we ask that there is no private photography on the site. illustrated handouts and a guidebook are available. Refreshments are generally available from the Spire Cafe at St Paul's Church nearby between 9am and 3.30pm.
- Max no of people per tour:
- 8
- Est. tour duration:
- 1 hour(s) 30 minute(s)
