Charterhouse

Visit to The Charterhouse - Thursday 14th March 2019

Around fifteen members braved the journey to The Charterhouse, close to Smithfield Market, and were well-rewarded with an informative guided tour around this venerable institution. Below are some of the things to be seen - a visit is highly recommended.

Click on an image below to see a larger version - you can then move forward or back using the arrows on either side.

The entrance to the alms houses and the site of the first Carthusian monastry. Although built in Tudor times, they used the bricks from the old monastry.
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Chapel tower. Just above the lower window is a "squint" which allowed them to pinpoint the alter of the original church.
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The tomb of Sir Walter Manny, the monastry founder who died in 1371. His burial place was discovered during work to repair war damage in 1947 and then reburied on the same site.
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The chapel's altar and east window.
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General view of the chapel.
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The extraordinary tomb and memorial to the alms house founder Thomas Sutton. The fresco repays close study. Note the Talbot dog in front.
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Thomas Sutton's memorial plaque.
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View of the Tudor Great Hall and later porch.
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The Great Hall.
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Painting of Thomas Sutton in the Great Hall.
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Original decorative windows in the Great Hall.
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The former school dining room.
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Paintings in the dining room.
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The original C14th priory wall (left) and laterTtudor arch to make a cloister, originally twice as long as now. Used by schoolboys for football who allegedly originated the practice of "throwing-in" and the off-side rule!
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Courtyard showing contrasting building materials and styles as the site developed and changed over many centuries.
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Original entrance to the alms-houses.
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View towards garden area and other buildings of the complex.
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Garden area with the 33 residencies behind.
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The Tudor Great Chamber - the ceiling had to be replaced after war damage. It was used by Elizabeth 1st as an overnight stop before assuming the throne in 1558.
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The Great Chamber - the only original part of the ceiling decoration.
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Great Chamber fireplace built by the then owner, the Duke of Norfolk, before he plotted with Mary Queen of Scots and was beheaded.
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Carvings of Sutton's Talbot dogs symbol. The same symbol appears frequently including in stone on the front of the building. The dog breed is now extinct.
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Plaques to some old boys of the school (now moved to Godalming
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A cartoon by William Makepeace Thackery made when at Charterhouse School in the 1820s. In wiritng, he referred to it as "Slaughterhouse School".
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