Visit to the Charterhouse 11th June 24

On a sunny bright morning in June a dozen stalwarts from the Gloucestershire Arts Society, shepherded by Mrs Wendy Stebbing, were ushered into the portals of The Charterhouse.
Originally a Carthusian monastery belonging to a very ascetic order of  Roman Catholic monks with origins in the 14th century it met its day at the hands of Henry V111th and Cardinal Wolseley but was brought back to life as a charitable foundation by Sir Thomas Sutton. He transformed the buildings into a beautiful private residence but also founded a school, The Charterhouse, and an almshouse.
It now offers a community for elderly people in financial and social need providing a permanent safe home for 40 “Brothers”.
After a generous helping of tea/coffee and biscuits we were introduced to the house and led around by a specialist guide. A fascinating tour took us from the wood- panelled Jacobean dining room to the grand reception upstairs replete with Jacobean carvings and Restoration portraits of Royal subjects and Charterhouse benefactors. Following on from a stop in the Cloisters  we completed the tour of the buildings in the beautiful chapel. The tour included a very thorough history of the house and its inhabitants.

After about 90 minutes we were introduced to the head gardener and offered a tour of the spectacular gardens.The head gardener explained the interesting planting schemes and introduced us to some beautiful plantings within the walled gardens as well as the more open areas where the “Brothers” carry out their own schemes, overlooking the central square.

It was a thoroughly worthwhile visit to one of London’s hidden gems. I thoroughly recommend it.