Reactions In Wakefield As the first Religious Community in Wakefield since the Reformation, the Benedictine Nuns were naturally of some interest to the local population. Their skills as teachers cannot be in doubt and it seems their speciality was French (naturally enough) and Music.  Their faith seems to have been passed on to at least some of those with whom they came into contact.  Miss Jane Tennant, one of four sisters to attend lessons at the Convent, later became a Catholic and joined the Benedictine Order in France.  Members of the Austwick family who were employed at the convent also became Catholics. There was, however, some unwelcome attention from a few of the locals.  Henry Clarkson recalls how he and a cousin approached the Hall grounds by boat in around 1810 and proceeded to spy upon the nuns out on their afternoon walk!    "We were very much struck with the youthful and beautiful appearance of the young ladies, and my cousin unable to repress some slight exclamation, we were at once discovered by the Lady Abbess.......who came forward in great indignation, speaking angrily in French, of which neither or us understood a word."                                                                     Henry Clarkson: Memories of Merrie Wakefield Naturally enough the nuns became wary on such intrusions against which they had little defence as the property had a border with the river.  They made inquiries to buy the property so that they could build a wall around it for privacy, but the owner refused to sell.  In order to preserve the necessary privacy of their community life, the Nuns left Heath Hall in 1821 and moved to Orrell Mount in Lancashire.