The York Catholic History Day will take place at the Bar Convent, Blossom Street, York on Saturday 6 June. This year the focus of the talk is very much on the Convent itself: the building, the contents and the resources these provide. The property in Blossom Street was purchased by the sisters in 1686, for use as a boarding school, but by the mid eighteenth century the premises had become too small for the needs of the school and convent and major extension and refurbishment was required. This work, which included the addition of the Georgian façade and the building of the ‘secret’ chapel, was completed in 1769. Further expansion took place in the mid nineteenth century. Architectural historian Victoria Hopgood will speak about ‘Building the Bar Convent: the first 200 years (1686 to 1886)’.
The contents of the Convent, acquired over the 340 years of its existence illustrate many aspects of its history. While they may seem simply functional or decorative, some have or have acquired special significance, for example objects associated with Mary Ward, the founder of the community of sisters, now known as the Congregation of Jesus, which are displayed in the Living Heritage Centre and Museum, portraits of the sisters who shaped the development of the community, books, furniture and furnishings, including three clocks made by Henry Hindley, a distinguished York clock and scientific instrument maker. Matthew Read and Rachel Wicaksono will talk about ‘Henry Hindley: 18th century Catholic maker of the Bar Convent clocks’.
During more than three centuries the sisters collected books for use by themselves and by their pupils. This collection consists of around 1400 books, dating from 1508 to 1850, many of which came originally from the Continent, at a time when Catholic books were illegal in England. It is also special because the books were bought and used exclusively by women. Two researchers from the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University will describe how they are using the Rare Books Collection at the Bar Convent in their research projects. Maddie Keighley-Phillips will talk about ‘Catholic Book Networks in the Bar Convent Library’ and Jon Chant about ‘English Catholic Exile on the Iberian Peninsula: Studying the books of the English College in Lisbon, 1622-1834’.
Following the formal talks there will be an open forum and participants are invited to speak briefly about work in progress, provide information about forthcoming events and publications which may be of interest to the audience, ask for information relating to current research (the combined knowledge of a History Day audience is formidable) and make suggestions for future History Days.
The programme begins at 10.30, with registration from 10 am. Tea and coffee will be available all day and lunches and light refreshments are served is at the Bar Convent café. (Please phone 01904 464910 to book a table) At lunchtime there will be an opportunity to visit the Living Heritage Centre [for details see the Bar Convent website http://www.barconvent.co.uk and the shop, where the recently published guide book is on sale. The day will end with Mass in the Chapel at approximately 4.30 pm
The cost of the day is £20, students £10 (cash only please). For more details please contact judith.smeaton@btinternet.com
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