WINDMILL ROAD AND THE REPARATION CONVENT CONNECTING SOUTH SUMMERHILL TO HIGH STREET

This was my first time to photograph Windmill Road which is in the Turner’s Cross area of Cork City.

The main feature is a large convent and church complex that currently appears to be in poor condition. Before my visit I was aware of the convent but I had difficult discovering its name or history but I eventually established that it was known as the Reparation Convent or the Convent of Marie Reparatrice. Note – The Sisters of Marie Reparatrice are an International community of vowed women religious serving in 23 countries.

All the external walls are painted green as is much of the street. The complex or site is officially described as a former chapel with six-bay side elevations and gabled entrance porch, built c. 1885, now in use as health care offices. This former convent chapel formed part of a group of religious related buildings with the adjoining former convent to the east. They played a significant role in the social development of the city. Though no longer in use as a chapel, the building retains much of it’s original form and is enhanced by the retention of interesting features and materials, such as the ashlar limestone dressings, pointed arch openings, cast-iron finials and slate roof, while the stained glass windows add artistic interest to the building.

I searched planning applications for the area and came across the following description: The site comprises approximately 0.53 ha, bounded with high stone walls along both, High Street on the northern site boundary and Windmill Road on the southern boundary. Adjacent to the western boundary are the grounds and buildings of the former Reparation Convent. The site contains one large detached dwelling house and extensive garden area with mature trees along its periphery. The site is gently sloping upwards in southern direction.

The area is part of the inner suburbs of Cork City, within the administrative area of Cork City South Central. The city centre is within 10 min walking distance. The Douglas Street neighbourhood and its services.