Basic Site Details

Name: Benedictine Convent of the Perpetual Adoration, Corbelly Hill
Town, district or village: Dumfries
City or county: Dumfriesshire
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: A convent for nuns of the Order of the Perpetual Adoration is about to be built on the Corkly-hill, Maxwelltown, opposite Dumfries. Mr. Pugin, of London, is the architect, and the contract for building has been let to Mr. Devlin, of Glasgow. whose tender, according to the Glasgow Herald, was £3,000 lower than the highest received. [Building News 25 March 1881 Page343]

This building, now in course of erection, is being built for the nuns of the Perpetual Adoration, at the cost of the dowager Lady Herries. It is situated on the top of Corbelly-hill, Maxwell Town, Dumfries. The site is a most beautiful one, being the highest point in the neighbourhood, and commands a view of the country for many miles. It is built with the local stone, the dressings being polished and the facings rock- faced. The colour of the stone harmonises well with the surrounding scenery. The whole of the church, but only a portion of the convent, is now being built. It has been designed and is being carried out under the superintendence of Messrs. Pugin and Pugin, of Westminster. The contractor is Mr John Devlin, of Glasgow; Mr. Ely is the clerk of works. The illustration we give was in the Royal Academy, but in colour. [Building News 30 December 1881 p880 and illustration]

Scheme exhibited at the Royal Academy 1881-Number 1041

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1Convent of the Immaculate ConceptionYes 

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Religious House  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 1Maxwell StreetYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 418801884Build/constructionOriginal building - chapel and main buildings
Item 2 of 41891  SW boarding house wing
Item 3 of 4After 1903(?)Before 1912 Additions
Item 4 of 41960s Alteration/conversionAlterations?

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 8Cuthbert Welby Pugin A18801884Main buildings and chapel (and reredos)
Item 2 of 8Peter Paul Pugin A18801884Main buildings and chapel (and reredos)
Item 3 of 8Pugin & Pugin A18801884Main buildings and chapel (and reredos)
Item 4 of 8James Barbour  1891 SW boarding house wing
Item 5 of 8Wilfrid Fitzalan Crombie  After 1903(?)Before 1912Additions
Item 6 of 8Charles Fotheringham D1960s Alterations?
Item 7 of 8Colin Young Morton D1960s Alterations?
Item 8 of 8T I Morton & Son D1960s Alterations?

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 1Diocese of Glasgow 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Anson, Peter1965Fashions in church furnishings2ndLondonp274
Item 2 of 5Gifford, John1996Dumfries and Galloway (The Buildings of Scotland)  p263
Item 3 of 5Graves, Algernon1905The Royal Academy of Arts: a complete dictionary of exhibitors and their works…1905-6London: Graves and BellListed under Pugin and Pugin 1881-1041
Item 4 of 5RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 5 of 5Sanders, John1997Pugin & Pugin and the Diocese of Glasgow Architectural Heritage VIII, pp89-107p91 quoting correspondence and diocesan finance board minutes in notes

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Building News25 March 1881  p343
Item 2 of 3Building News3 June 1881  p659 - work commenced
Item 3 of 3Building News30 December 1881  p880 and illustration

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 3Dumfries & Galloway CouncilJames Barbour drawings, Sutherland Dickie & Copland Archive (many not traced, 2010) 951
Item 2 of 3Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register26281 
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers Wilfrid Fitzalan Crombie: L v23 no1893