Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
St Mary’s Priory on St Ann’s Road
Is there anyone here that went to St Mary’s Priory (Convent), when it was still a fee paying school? I was in the last Prep 4 in 1966, going on to St Angela’s at Wood Green…a school that fell far short of the standard of education and pastoral care that St Mary’s provided.
The grounds stretched all the way to the railway embankment, we had the convent garden to roam in and enormous playgrounds.
The nuns were calmly strict and very encouraging. I revisited the convent four years ago, most of the land has been built on…but the garden and cemetery were still intact.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Shulver on
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Is that the convent beyond St Anns Hospital, Christine ? I used to go to South Grove SM near opposite.
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Permalink Reply by Christine Yates on
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Hello John,
I had a school friend who lived at 16 South Grove: Geraldine Samuel’s, she went on to Our Lady’s at Stamford Hill, also run by the Servites.
The convent grounds ran from Hermitage Road, right up to the railway embankment and then down to Suffolk Road…I may have the road name wrong, but certainly to the first road past the convent on the right. Presently there are new houses from the corner of Hermitage and St Ann’s Road. Originally there were four, four storey Victorian houses there, one of whom was lived in by the Ricker family, Andrew was in my class and his brother a Malcom was a year above.
The main building had a wonderful main chapel with a side chapel where we made our first Communion. The nuns used the main chapel for mass, each nun having her own side chair. The chapel was enormous with a tableau alter of Christ with his ,other and Mary Magdalen, having just removed him from the his cross.
There was a large choir loft and equally large organ that was played either by Sr Anthony or Sr Theodore. Ones you were in Prep 3 and Prep4 you had the privilege to sing at Friday benediction. All of the Christian effects have been removed now, the side chapel pews are gone too.
It was a magical place, calm, well ordered and no one slipped through. I feel blessed and lucky that my parents gave me such a good start. I passed my 11+ only to go to what was the most awful grammar school: St Angela’s at Wood Green. No pastoral care, no empathy, no support. Bullying was rife.
I hope this bit of info has helped. St Mary’s was a wonderful place of learning.
xxx
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It's good to hear you're so thankful to your parents Christine. Did they know that ? All I ever saw of the convent was that big brick wall that seemed to run for half a mile along St Ann's Road with a couple of large arched doorways set in. Passed it twice a day to and from my school (though on opposite side of the road) and the nearest we got to Christianity was our annual Christmas Carol concerts in the church opposite your big wall (can't remember name of it). Certainly a comparison of "learnings" though Christine, a real insight thank you. x
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Hello John,
Hello John,
You are most welcome, I enjoyed the education at St Mary’s, it was calm and patient. No raised voices.
I visited the school about four years ago with Maggie Traynor (nee Reilly) who had attended the school in the new building on Hermitage Road. Sevgi Yumaki also came along as she is involved with the community in the old school building.
What a place to start your education, the grammar school I attended was abysmal by comparison.
x
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Yes, my parents knew I was grateful for the sacrifices they made, and I still think of them and thank them.
Dad loved the fact that our gym-slips, sashes and Panama hats made him think of St Trinian’s…the boys wore shorts and caps ! My father made my winter coat from his WW11 navy great-coat.
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Hello John,
Did you go to Chestnuts School opposite the park, and if so did you know Michael Denny and Paul Saar? They attended from 1960-66?
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