| St. Mary�s College Catholic School and Seminary was founded in 1794 at another site. In 1835 Bishop Walsh bought an estate and began to build today�s College. This was probably the largest Catholic undertaking in the UK at this time |
| Two years after the project began Pugin paid a visit, he was only 25 and had already designed his own house near Salisbury and alterations to Scarisbrook Hall. At St. Mary�s he also designed much of the interior to the chapel and other decorations. |
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As you enter the gates the house is hidden and you pass through the trees arriving at this imposing red brick building of four stories with a wonderful view over Birmingham across the fields.
The austerity of the building is broken by the multitude of gargoyles splendid lead gutter boxes, and a lovely statue of the Virgin Mary and child. | 
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| The college is built around a courtyard. Walking to the Chapel you step on some lovely tiles. The Chapel is fabulas �not sure where to look first� type of impression. There is glass by Warrington, Wailes and Hardman, dark Flemish wood carving, set off by the gold around the altar. | 
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In a large room upstairs the museum is housed. Hundreds of medieval artifacts collected by Pugin, he felt that you could only reproduce the designs if you had studied the real thing at close hand. In the dining room there were some splendid tables and benches designed by him and built by a local craftsman Thomas Morley. Both Edward and Peter Paul did work here after their father�s death. | 
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