The Convent, Gibraltar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Convent |
|
|---|---|
The Convent with King's Chapel on the right
|
|
| Former names | Convent of Franciscan Friars; Gibraltar Palace |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Early Georgian with later Victorian features being introduced |
| Location | Main Street, Gibraltar |
| Coordinates | 36°08′14″N 5°21′13″W / 36.137115°N 5.353526°W |
| Current tenants | Governor of Gibraltar |
| Completed | 19th century |
| Owner | UK Ministry of Defence |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
The Convent is a very important building in Gibraltar. It has been the official home of the Governor of Gibraltar since 1728. A governor is like a leader or representative for a country.
This building was first a convent for Franciscan friars, which are like monks. That's why it's called "The Convent." It was built in 1531. Over the years, especially in the 1700s and 1800s, it was rebuilt many times.
Inside the dining room at The Convent, you can see a huge collection of heraldry. Heraldry means special symbols and designs, like family crests. This collection is one of the biggest in the whole Commonwealth of Nations.
Contents
The Convent's History
Franciscan friars came to Gibraltar when Charles I of Spain was king. They were given land in an area called La Turba. This was where many poorer people in Gibraltar lived.
In 1531, the friars built a church and a friary (a home for friars) there. The main entrance was at the back, which is now Governor's Lane. The building stretched to where the John Mackintosh Hall is today.
In 1704, an Anglo-Dutch fleet captured Gibraltar. Most of the Spanish people left Gibraltar. However, the Franciscan friars stayed for some years. Records show they were still there in 1712.
Later, in 1728, the British took over the friary. It became the home for the British governors. It has been the governor's residence ever since. The building was greatly changed and rebuilt in the 1700s and 1800s. It was designed in the Georgian style, with some Victorian features added later.
In 1903, Edward VII, who was the King of Britain, visited Gibraltar. It was the first time a British King had visited. He came to name a new dock in Gibraltar Harbour after himself. Some people complained that as the head of the Church of England, he should not stay in a building that was once a Roman Catholic convent.
So, the King asked for the building to be called Government House. Other royals also visited later. Queen Alexandra came in 1906, and the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the next year. They named other docks in the harbour.
About The Convent Today
The Convent is located near the southern end of Main Street. You can often see soldiers from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment performing a guard mount at the main entrance. This happens a few days each week.
The "Changing of the Guard" ceremony also takes place outside The Convent several times a year. It's a special event where new guards take over from the old ones.
King's Chapel
Next to The Convent is the King's Chapel. This church was part of the original Franciscan buildings. During Queen Victoria's time, it was called Queen's Chapel. But Queen Elizabeth II changed its name back to King's Chapel.
Inside the chapel, you can see the flags of several British army groups. The remains of important people are also buried there. These include the wife of a Spanish governor from 1648. Also, two British governors, General Charles O'Hara and Lieutenant-General Colin Campbell, were buried there in 1802 and 1814.
The Convent's Ghost Story
People say that The Convent is haunted by a ghost. This ghost is known as the "Lady in Grey." She is said to walk in the hallway outside one of the guest rooms. The story says she believes this room is hers. This is because she was supposedly walled up alive inside it.
There are different versions of the "Grey Lady" story. The most popular one says she was the daughter of a rich Spanish family. She married someone her father did not approve of. When her father found out, he sent her to the "Convent of Santa Clara" on Main Street. There, she was forced to become a nun.
But her lover did not give up. He joined the Franciscan Order and moved into the Convent too. The couple supposedly met secretly in the confessional of the King's Chapel. They planned to escape together.
On the night they tried to escape, they went to the harbour. A boat was waiting for them. However, someone found out, and they were chased. During the chase, her lover fell into the water and drowned. The young woman was caught for breaking her vows as a nun. As punishment, she was walled up alive in one of the rooms in The Convent.
See also
In Spanish: El Convento (Gibraltar) para niños
- Architecture of Gibraltar
- Governor of Gibraltar
- History of Gibraltar
- Political development in modern Gibraltar
