Work gets under way on first monastery to be built in Liverpool for more than 100 years
by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post
Aug 1 2011

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/ldp2/jul2011/1/9/sketch-of-new-carmelite-monastery-in-allerton-546718639.jpg

CONSTRUCTION work has begun on the first monastery to be built in Liverpool for more than a century.

The building at Maryton Grange in Allerton is believed to be the largest purpose-built monastery in Europe currently under construction, and will be the new home for the Carmelite Sisters who are relocating from their present retreat in West Derby.

The order of 30 sisters will be moving to the more secluded location after 100 years at its current home.

The Trustees of the Carmelite monastery decided the move was necessary because the area around their old West Derby home had become increasingly urban, with residential properties being built next to the sisters’ garden.

The final straw came when a link bridge was built between the Cardinal Heenan and Broughton Hall schools which neighbour the convent.

The bridge meant that pupils could see into their garden, which the nuns used for quiet contemplation.

The Prioress, Sister Mary, said: “While West Derby has been our home for more than 100 years and we will be sad to leave, we felt it was time to move to a location which will be more compatible with our way of life.

“For example, the new monastery will allow us to be much more energy efficient and the gardens will also enable us to be self-sufficient while also protecting the local habitat.”

Everton-based Nobles Construction has started work on the project at a 36,000 sq metre site off Allerton Road, after five years of planning.

The three-storey building will be constructed with traditional materials and will feature a central chapel, cloister and work areas, together with a care facility for elderly sisters.

As part of the scheme, extensive landscaping works will be carried out on the monastery gardens, including the planting of new wildflower meadows and water features to benefit the local wildlife and habitat, together with the planting of more than 1,500 trees.

The 60-week project is expected to be completed in summer 2012.

Continues (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/08/01/work-gets-under-way-on-first-monastery-to-be-built-in-liverpool-for-more-than-100-years-92534-29154193/2/) >>

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/assets/_files/cached/img/402x270.09375/aug_11/pnw__1312192250_Monastery_elev_sketch_211.jpg

New monastery on site in Liverpool
1 Aug 2011, 10:52

Nobles Construction has started work on the first Carmelite monastery to be built in the city for more than a century.

The monastery at Maryton Grange, Allerton will be the new home to the Carmelite Sisters who are relocating from their present monastery in West Derby.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/assets/_files/cached/img/305x200/aug_11/pnw__1312192398_Monastery_elev_sketch_21.jpg

The 386,000 sq ft project on Allerton Road was designed by architects Austin-Smith:Lord and will be home to 30 sisters. The three storey building will be constructed with traditional materials and will feature a central chapel, cloister and work areas, together with a care facility for elderly sisters.

Nobles Construction will also be undertaking extensive landscaping works to the monastery gardens. The works will include the planting of new wildflower meadows and water features to benefit the local wildlife and habitat together with the planting of over 1,500 trees.

Ecology and sustainability are at the heart of the new building design which will include ground source heating, solar panels and rainwater harvesting facilities.

The 60-week project is expected to be completed in summer 2012. The Carmelite order is funding the project from the sale of other assets around the country.

Peter Linford, director of Nobles Construction, said: "This is an exciting and challenging project for us as it will be the first new build Carmelite monastery in Liverpool for more than a century.

"The building and landscaping has been designed to meet the requirements of the order and remain sympathetic to a traditional style monastery whilst incorporating 21st century facilities.

"We are working closely with the Prioress to ensure these needs are met and that their move is as smooth as possible. The new building will reflect its peaceful environment and include renewable energy installations as well as protecting existing wildlife."

The Prioress, Sister Mary, said: "Whilst West Derby has been our home for over 100 years and we will be sad to leave, we felt it was time to move to a location which will be more compatible with our way of life.

"For example the new monastery will allow us to be much more energy efficient and the gardens will also enable us to be self-sufficient whilst protecting the local habitat."

Peter Brack, director at Hardie Brack chartered surveyors, project managers to the Carmelite Sisters, said: "The monastery project has been five years in planning as we have adopted a collaborative approach to create a living environment that benefits the Sisters with their contemplative life."

Source: Place North West (http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/9668-new-monastery-on-site-in-liverpool.html)

Nobles starts on monastery
02/08/2011

Work has started on Liverpool’s first new Carmelite monastery for more than 100 years. It is believed to be the largest Carmel currently under construction in Europe.

http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/public/img-cache/270x200_1312267306_monastery-elev-sketch-21.jpg

The monastery at Maryton Grange, Allerton, Liverpool, will be the new home of the Carmelite Sisters who are relocating from their present monastery in West Derby.

Liverpool-based Nobles Construction has started work on this unique project on a 36,000 sq m site. Contract value is undisclosed. The 60-week project is expected to be completed in summer 2012.

The order of 30 Sisters will be moving to the more secluded location after 100 years at its present monastery, next to Broughton Hall and Cardinal Heenan Schools. It is one of 20 Carmelite monasteries in the UK.

The three-storey building, which has been designed by architects Austin-Smith:Lord, will be constructed with traditional materials and will feature a central chapel, cloister and work areas, together with a care facility for elderly sisters.

Features include ground source heating, solar panels and rainwater harvesting facilities.

Nobles Construction director Peter Linford said: “This is an exciting and challenging project for us as it will be the first new build Carmelite monastery in Liverpool for more than a century. The building and landscaping has been designed to meet the requirements of the order and remain sympathetic to a traditional style monastery whilst incorporating 21st century facilities.

“We are working closely with the Prioress to ensure these needs are met and that their move is as smooth as possible. The new building will reflect its peaceful environment and include renewable energy installations as well as protecting existing wildlife.”

Source: The Construction Index (http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/contract-news/nobles-starts-on-monastery)

Surely it is either a convent or a nunnery if there are Carmelite Sisters there. Only monks live in a monastery don't they?

Surely it is either a convent or a nunnery if there are Carmelite Sisters there. Only monks live in a monastery don't they?

Seems the Carmalite Nuns refer to them as monasteries, (see www.carmelnuns.org.uk).

Surely it is either a convent or a nunnery if there are Carmelite Sisters there. Only monks live in a monastery don't they?

No, all monastics live in monasteries. Benedictine nuns, for example.

More importantly, do they make Buckfast?

More importantly, do they make Buckfast?

OMG I just had an image of gangs of scallies sitting on Allerton Road swigging the stuff. :ohno:

Europe's biggest new monastery starts building in Liverpool

Nuns will harvest rainwater, use ground source heating and plant a wildflower meadow - while Bradford's Anglicans install the UK's first cathedral-roof solar power

Liverpool's long association with the Roman Catholic faith is taking another step forward with the building of Europe's largest new Carmelite monastery in Allerton.

The £3 million project includes the planting of 1500 trees and aims to give 30 Carmelite nuns the peace and quiet they have lost in their present home in busy West Derby.

Two big schools are expanding next door to the existing building which was an almost rural haven when the order moved in 104 years ago. Rather than risk tensions with their young neighbours, the nuns decided in the words of their prioress Sister Mary to "bow out gracefully and let the schools enjoy the area."

The move follows the opening in 2009 of Stanbrook Abbey, a new home in Yorkshire for nuns of the order of Our Lady of Consolation, whose innovations include rainwater harvesting, power from a woodchip boiler and sedum plants on a 'green roof.' The Allerton monastery (the correct name, albeit that nuns inhabit it rather than monks) features a wildflower meadow, ground source heating, solar panels and similar rainwater harvesting to Stanbrook's.

Sister Mary says


The new monastery will allow us to be much more energy efficient and the gardens will also enable us to be self-sufficient whilst protecting the local habitat.

West Derby has been our home for over 100 years and we will be sad to leave, but we felt it was time to move to a location which will be more compatible with our way of life.


These are good times for the somewhat recherche world of ecclesiastical construction. The Liverpool building firm Nobles, which has contracted to finish the new monastery in 60 weeks, also has work under way onalterations to Wesley Methodist Church in the city centre, refurbishment at Rosemount Convent and a new church hall at St Michael's and All Angels Church in Pensby.

In Bradford meanwhile, the Anglican cathedral is to be the first in the world to install solar panels to generate its own electric if not spiritual power. The £50,000 scheme on the roof of the south aisle adds to a long and curious record of additions to the Grade 1 listed building. When Royalists besieged the stoutly Cromwellian city during the English Civil War, the tower was protected against stray canonballs by enormous bales of wool, like a stone version of the Michelin man.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2011/aug/02/nuns-liverpool-monastery-carmelite-west-derby-allerton-solar-power-rainwater-harvest

Three million pounds for housing just 30 people....quite an astonishing sum

Where do these people get the money from? Do they own oil fields somewhere? or just trade in commodities and stocks?

Probably just the sale value of their current property?

Just as all churches are exempt from rates/council tax I would expect the sisters also not to have to pay LVT.

Churches are exempt due to their charitable/places of worship status, but they get the benefits because of their services to the public. Many monastic organisations do not as they have little/no public benefit and in fact support only their members. It's quite a mixed bag actually.

No, all monastics live in monasteries. Benedictine nuns, for example.

Thanks for that, I never knew.