Burngreave Road Convent of Our Lady of Mercy, St Catherine's Parish, Sheffield, 1883-2010
Scope and Contents
Consists of records acquired and accumulated by the Sisters of Mercy of the Burngreave Road Community, in particular the Reverend Mothers. Includes correspondence, financial, administrative and property records; spiritual writings by the Sisters; a few school records; records of church, local and national events affecting the Sisters; and personal papers of Sisters.
Dates
- Creation: 1883-2010
Conditions Governing Access note
As a private archive, access to the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy Archive requires application to the Archivist and approval by the Institute's Leadership Team. Where items are closed for access, this is indicated at the appropriate level.
Biographical / Historical
The first Mercy foundation in Sheffield was founded from Commercial Road, London, in May 1883. Sister M. Scholastica McDonald and Sister M. Vincent Flanagan moved into a small house in Andover Street at the invitation of Father Burke, the parish priest, to teach in the parish school. In 1890, a large house was purchased on the corner of Abbeyfield Road and Burngreave Road, becoming known as the Burngreave Road Convent. The Sisters taught at St Catherine's Primary School (then situated in Rock Street); opened a private school and a music school as a means of livelihood; fed the homeless at the convent; and undertook visitation of homes and the Northern General hospital (also a workhouse in the early days). In 1912, the Sisters were invited to teach in St Joseph's, Handsworth, Sheffield, where today Sisters are buried. In 1921 Claremont Nursing Home was founded. A branch house in Wath-upon-Dearne was taken over from the Hunslet Sisters of Mercy. In 1927 a new school was built in St Patrick's parish and some Sisters transferred there from St Catherine's. In 1933 Mylnhurst Convent Day and Boarding School was opened in St William's parish, Ecclesall. The boarding school was closed in 1949 and both Burngreave Road and Mylnhurst Convent schools changed from all-age to primary. Sisters also taught at St Thomas More's and St Peter's schools. Later, the work began to diversify and Sisters became Parish Sisters, hospital chaplains, social workers, councillors, as well as teachers. By 1980, the Convent was too large for the number of Sisters so houses were purchased in Swanbourne Road and Taptonville Crescent in 1981 and 1982, and Burngreave Road Convent was sold to become a rest home.
Full Extent
3 box
Language of Materials
From the Fonds: English
Arrangement
The sub-fonds is arranged into series that reflect the content and context of the collection. It has not been possible to re-create the original order.
Other Finding Aids
A Microsoft Access database lists some material to item level. Former reference numbers have been recorded within the Repository Processing Note at file and/or item level.
Custodial History
The archives of the Burngreave Road Community have been collected from the opening of the Convent of Mercy in 1883 to the present by Sisters of Mercy who belonged to the Community, and cover the running of their lives. The records of the branch houses have been catalogued as independent houses under the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy (formed 1983). It is assumed that many records were lost or destroyed when the Sisters moved out of the convent. Many of the records that have been saved were cared for in Swanbourne Road Convent of Mercy.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected for Burngreave Road Convent.
Repository Details
Part of the Bermondsey Convent of Mercy Repository