The Bar Convent, Junction of Blossom Street & Nunnery Lane

The Bar Convent today with the 'new' brick of the repair visible above the red car.

Click the link for a "Then and Now" comparison of this location.

Madeline Clayton......aged 51.............Sister Mary Agnes (House Prefect)

Eva Jordon......aged 53.....................Sister Mary Vincent (Headmistress, English Martyrs School)

Jane McClorry......aged 65................Sister Mary Gerard (Infirmarian)

Margaret Murphy......aged 50............Sister Mary Brendan ((Recently joined from Ascot)

Mary Ann O'Connor......aged 39........Sister Mary Patricia (Teacher in the Junior School)

The English Martyrs School was a Catholic Primary School located, at that time, behind the Odeon Cinema (now Reel).
The York Education Committee sent condolences to the family of Sister Mary Vincent (minutes 22.5.1942 page 525).





The grave of Sisters Mary Agnes Clayton and Mary Gerard McClorry.





The grave of Sisters Mary Patricia O'Connor, Mary Vincent Jordan and Mary Brendon Murphy.

Several of the nuns were firewatchers and therefore stayed above ground when the raid started (the other nuns and pupils having gone down to the shelters). However, Mother Mary Agnes was missing. The nuns went to search for her and she was heard in the rubble below where they stood. She was close to a delayed action bomb. Unfortunately, as they went for a ladder to rescue her, the bomb exploded and Mother Agnes and all but one of the rescue party were killed.

Click this link for a full description.



The cemetery in the grounds of the Bar Convent.

More information about the Bar Convent can be found on their website (opens in a new window)