Built in the early 1500's, the Convent is one of Main Street's (if not Gibraltar's) oldest standing habitable buildings. It was originaly a convent of Franciscan friars, hence its name, and was hevily rebuilt in the 18th and 19th centuries. The official residence of the Govenor of Gibraltar since 1728, the building is unlikely to be available on the Open Market any time soon, which is just as well given it's spooky resident.
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The Convent in the early 1900s
The convent is supposedly haunted by the ghost of a nun, known as "Lady in Grey" who is said to roam the corridor outside one of the guest rooms. It is said that she considers it to be her room, as she was walled up alive in it.
There are various versions of the "Lady in Grey" story, the most popular being that she was the daughter of an affluent Spanish family who had married against her father's wishes. When he learnt of it, he placed her in the "Convent of Santa Clara" situated in the Main Street, where under the eyes of the Mother Superior, the girl was forced to take her vows and become a nun. Her lover was not discouraged; he joined the Franciscan Order and settled in the Convent. The couple are said to have met in the confessional of the King's Chapel where they hatched plans for their escape.
On the night of their escape they made their way to the harbour where a boat was waiting for them. However, the alarm was raised and in the ensuing chase the lover fell into the water and drowned. The bride was arrested for breaking her vows and as punishment was walled up alive in one of the rooms in the Convent.
Some stories name the lady as a young Spanish lady called Alitea and that her lover - Silvano - simply pretended to be a monk in order to see his lover once a week. Whether she was walled up alive in a room or burried alive behind a wall in the chapel also seems to be up for debate, but one thing that is certain is that - since the 1700s - an aparition dressed in a grey nun's habit has often been seen stalking the corridors of the convent.
We wonder if our current Governor; Lieutenant General Sir Ben Bathurst is yet to come across the Lady in Grey and what would he do if he did...?