The Butts
Built in the 18th century with later additions as a convent, now a convent and residential care home.
Grade II Statutory Listed as St Raphael’s, but also known as St Mary’s.
In Butts Conservation Area.
History
18th century house thought to date from 1792. Chapel added 1913-14. Originally Egglesfield House lived in by Dr Cooper.
Bought by Frances Margaret Taylor (Mother Mary Magdalen) in 1880. She was a Catholic convert from Anglicanism who had nursed in the Crimea and founded the Congregation of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God to serve the urban poor (originally in London) in 1869. The house provides a home for women with learning difficulties. At east end, 1920s building was called St Raphael’s but recently has become Taylor House. Building on West End is now Maryville Care Home.
Also mentioned on English Heritage website:
“St Mary’s Convent in Brentford was one of the most important convents of the Congregation of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God (SMG). It operated as a ‘central house of work’, generating an income that helped support the smaller convents. Like St Marye’s, Portslade, the congregation adapted and added to an existing house which they first leased in 1880. As the local community regarded the congregation with suspicion (reflecting the strong vein of anti-Catholicism in wider Victorian society) Frances Taylor, foundress of the SMGs, had to conduct the negotiations to secure the building in secular dress. The SMG archives reveal extremely detailed accounts of the successive building programmes at their convents, describing the disputes that arose between the building contractors, architects and sisters. Diary entries show the extent of knowledge that sisters acquired about the building process in order to ensure that convent building was carried out exactly to their specification.”
EH Listing Description
C18 with modern additions. Brown brick. 2-storeys, 4 double-hung sashes in reveals with flat arches. Rusticated door surround with keystones, consoles, pediment. 6 fielded panel door. Ground floor projects with flat roof with balustrade above. Hipped Welsh slate roof with modillion cornice and parapet. NMR.
Further Information
Congregation of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God
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The History of Brentford 
I have the original parchment lease for Egglesfield house, from E Sparshall Willet , Doctor, to F.M Taylor commencing 29th september 1880. Nice bit of history including plan with garden area if you want me to send a picture
Ooh yes please, to contact@brentfordhistory.com How did you come by it?
Dear Pamela, I am the archivist of the Sisters (Poor Servants of the Mother of God) who administer St Mary’s Convent. ‘F. M Taylor’ was the founder of the Sisters, Mother Magdalen Taylor. I’d be fascinated to see a copy of the lease.
I have the remains of an old book (front and back cover) with the inside cover containing the following:
Thomas R Sidebottom
A prize for Examination
and
Good Conduct
at
Egglesfield House
July 25 th 1836