The world famous artist Turner was known to walk all over the West Country with his sketchbook. in 1813 he came along this creek, which he called Stonehouse Pools. He drew images of the creek with it's rural setting before it was populated by many Victorian houses. One of these is a small water colour showing the creek, mill and church steeples of Stoke Damerel and St Aubyn's in Devonport.
This ruin was is the only remnant left of the Convent of Notre Dame. The building was built on land soon purchased after the completion of the cathedral. By October 1865 the convent and girl's school for boarders had opened. Pupils from all over the world would come and stay at this fine establishment. By 1936/8 the convent premises took over the large old Presbyterian Chapel. During the Blitz of Plymouth this building and its chapel.
Eldad Chapel was first built here c1830 until it's demise 1846 when the chapel fell into disuse. In 1848 it was renamed Church of St Peter's, at the same a temporary hospital was built nearby to cope with the outbreak of cholera, which was nursed by a group of women who became Sisters of the Holy Trinity who were allowed to receive Holy Communion daily. In 1882 major works were done to the tower, etc. and then during WWII it was gutted, being finally rebuilt late-1950s.
The school was opened in 1871 and styled into fine fashionable Victorian gothic style of the time. Primarily built for Infants and Girls only this school soon had to increase its capacity steadily as the local populatiuon grew. Initially designed to accomodate 230 pupils, by the early 1900s nearly 600 were present.
