Trapped in-between houses worth millions of pounds, it is hardly noticeable. In fact, from the exterior the place seems like yet another church. The rules are strict here. Unlike most Catholic Convents, at Tyburn the nuns are not allowed to step outside their enclosed walls.
To step inside is to enter a different world. A world in which, behind locked doors, dozens of sisters and nuns live clustered away from the noises of the city. These women mostly live in silence, punctuated by the chants of their own prayers.
As you walk through the wooden doors, the tranquillity of the place contrasts with the activity of its surroundings. But other than faith and serenity, peace of mind is what attracts visitors to this convent that has such a tumultuous past.
An execution site
A plate on the façade of the church reminds visitors that the Tyburn Convent perpetuates the memory of the 105 Catholic Martyrs who lost their lives at the Tyburn Gallows near this site. The Gallows refer to a type of execution by hanging which was prevalent in the 16th century.
What has been called the Tyburn Tree, is steps away from Marble Arch, and was in fact the site of 'The King's Gallows' from 1196 to 1783. This is where the King sent London’s criminals, but also his biggest traitors, to receive their capital punishment in front of a crowd of several thousands of people.
The original spot of the Tyburn Tree stands at the exact crossing of three major roads: Edgware Road, Bayswater Road, and Oxford Street. Millions of people pass by it each day without even noticing the slate on the ground that indicates it.
A creepy exhibit
Today what remains of the executions can be found at the Tyburn Convent. The exhibit is located inside the crypt under the monastic church called Shrine of the Martyrs. As you walk down the stairs that lead you to the exhibition, the feeling of entering an underground burial chamber intensifies.
This is where the relics of those who never got the chance to be buried are kept, and shown. Their unpolished fingernails, locks of hair, and bone fragments are conserved in this cold and dry cellar for all to see. Paintings of the execution surround you and to serve your imagination even further, a replica of the Tyburn Tree is on display.
Tyburn Convent offers an exhibit you would have thought existed right in the centre of the city.
Nearest Tube: Marble Arch Underground
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A few meters from the busy and overcrowded Oxford Street lies Tyburn Convent, a peaceful haven that stands out of from your ordinary Central London attractions.
by Isabelle Finateau
published on: 13 April, 2010
Peace in chaos
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