St Mary’s Old Covent Chapel was designed by Edward Mahoney and built in Ponsonby in 1865-66 as the first purpose-built chapel by the Sisters of Mercy in New Zealand. Salmond Reed Architects led a full external restoration of this Category A Gothic Revival chapel, working alongside specialist craftsmen to undertake numerous timber repairs, restoration of the beautiful lead light stained glass windows and reinstating the heritage colour scheme.
For 10 years, Salmond Reed Architects has worked closely with the Parish of Ellerslie, firstly with the upgrading of the Parish Hall then remedial works to the historic vicarage. In 2016, Salmond Reed embarked on a detailed programme of reporting, detailing and specifying sympathetic and crafts-based remedial works to both the timber building and the stained and painted windows. Of particular interest for their rarity value was the conservation repair carried out on the stained and painted windows. Work to the building included repairs to the bell tower and the return to exterior colours assimilating those of the original decorative scheme.
