Tavistock’s Carmelite Convent

By Chris Bellers & Sue Wayman, Tavistock Local History Society

When one thinks of monasteries and convents, one tends to think of ancient buildings and, perhaps, the Reformation. However, some have a more recent history. The Carmelite order, which traces its origins to hermits living on Mount Carmel in Israel in around 1200, did not establish itself in Britain until the late nineteenth century. Forced to leave the Holy Land, the Carmelites settled in Europe. Significant reform of the existing order took place in the sixteenth century through the efforts of St Teresa of Avila. This led to the founding of discalced convents of friars and nuns that emphasised austerity and contemplation. Discalced literally means ‘without shoes’, meaning barefoot or wearing sandals.

In 1604, the first French ‘Carmel’ was founded (directly from Spain) in Paris. In 1878, this Carmel sent seven of their sisters (two English and five French) to England, founding the Notting Hill Carmel, which still exists today. In 1883, one of these nuns, Madeleine Dupont (Mother Mary of Jesus), became prioress. Such was her success in recruiting new nuns that she was able to answer requests from Roman Catholic bishops from all over the country. Between 1907 and 1938, she founded 33 Discalced Carmelite convents, six of them in the South West of England including Plymouth, Exmouth and Tavistock. There is a cross and memorial to her in the Plymouth Road cemetery. The memorial reads: ‘In ever grateful memory of our venerated mother foundress Mother Mary of Jesus. Born Feb. 18th 1851. Professed Sept 8th 1873. Founded Tavistock’s Carmel August 30th 1922. Died March 15th 1942.’

In 1906, the Campbell family became the tenants of Mount Tavy (later to become a preparatory school) and built a small chapel on the estate for the few Roman Catholics in the area to worship in. In 1919, the Campbells moved to St Rumon’s, Watts Road, where they again built a small chapel. Following an approach by Bishop Kelly of Plymouth to the Notting Hill Carmel, it was agreed to set up a convent here. St Rumon’s was converted from a residential property to a convent, and in 1922, seven Carmelite nuns arrived. On 30th August 1922, Tavistock Carmel was founded. On August 31st and September 1st 1922, the new Convent of St Rumon’s was open to view by the people of Tavistock and the results of the workmen's labours were, according to the Tavistock Gazette (dated 8th September 1922), a revelation, with cells for the nuns ... a small chapel, a choir, cloisters etc. Also noticeable were the high walls, blocked driveway with a grill and spikes and a rear entrance to the convent. The ceremony of the imposition of enclosure was led by Cardinal Bourne, the Archbishop of Westminster and was attended by over a thousand members of the general public, as well as many Roman Catholic clergy from across the county and beyond.

The arrival of the nuns, and their need for solitude, meant that there had to be strict segregation between them and the Catholic community. This was solved in 1923 when the latter were able to use a wooden building in Russell Street where the Carlton Cinema was later to stand. However, this closed in 1937 and the Catholics could worship only in the Carmel chapel. The number of worshippers increased significantly during the Second World War because of billeted service men and prisoners of war, and the increased numbers continued after the war. The problem of space was not addressed until 1952, when the Catholics acquired Fitzford Church, once more allowing the nuns the solitude they needed.

The nuns had a large garden, enabling them to grow crops to sustain their own vegetarian diet as well as to sell. They were also skilled weavers and embroiderers. With gifts and legacies, they were able to be self-sufficient. The 1939 England and Wales Register lists 20 nuns at St Rumon's on 29th September 1939, including the prioress, Sybil Mary Trafford. Most of these were ‘enclosed’ or cloistered nuns meaning that they could not go outside the convent except for medical or other necessary reasons. However, there were also a few ‘extern’ nuns who dealt with the outside world to allow the cloistered nuns to keep an entirely contemplative way of life. Extern nuns provided a service to the community and offered hospitality to visitors.

By the 1950s, recruitment was increasingly difficult. As the existing nuns aged, the numbers dropped until the decision was taken to close the convent. By this time, in September 1995, there were only five ageing nuns. They were transferred to Upholland Carmel near Wigan (which itself closed in 2012) and the two extern sisters, Sisters Bernadette and Cecilia, who for so long had been a familiar sight around the town, retired and moved to Dawlish. The bodies of the 13 nuns who had died and been buried in the grounds were removed and re-interred in a chained-off area in the Plymouth Road Cemetery. When Sisters Bernadette and Cecilia died, they too were buried there.

After the nuns left, St Rumon’s remained empty. In 1999, the house was demolished and the site prepared for residential development. It is unclear as to the current use of the property. On street maps, 4 Watts Road is referred to as St Clare’s Presbytery (presbytery meaning the house of a Roman Catholic priest) and it still appears to be owned by Plymouth Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees. A neighbouring property is subject to an 'overage', meaning that, if any additional dwelling is built on it, the owners of the neighbouring property have to pay the trustees half the difference between the market values of the property, with and without planning consent for the additional dwelling. While the property at 4 Watts Road displays no indication of its past history as a Carmelite nunnery, there are reminders nearby. Just down the road is a wooden bench with a metal plaque inscribed: ‘In memory of the Carmelite sisters & their presence in Tavistock 1922 – 1995.’ By the bench is a side road into a private estate; the road is called Carmel Gardens.