6th December 2023
LGBT+ History Month Talk & Tour by Candlelight
Our LGBT+ History Month evenings help to tell a hidden history of our historic institution and bring to life characters who have influenced and impacted the Charterhouse. Visitors will be welcomed for a drink on arrival, followed by a short talk and will then take a tour through our stunning historic rooms and buildings by atmospheric candlelight. The evenings will contribute to LGBT+ History Month’s aims to ‘claim our past, celebrate our present and create our future’.
From the days of the medieval monastery until 2017, when women were admitted, the Charterhouse was a predominantly male community. Many of the residents, or Brothers, who found a haven in the almshouse from the early 17th century onwards were men who had no family to look after them in their older years, and many were gay men. The LGBT+ History Month talk and tour aims to bring to light these stories including historic governors such as George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham. More recently they consider the influence of architects Seely & Paget who restored the buildings after the Second World War, and residents including the distinguished artist and stage designer Robert Medley. For hundreds of years and until relatively recently, the Charterhouse held an almost unique position in British society by caring for many gay men when they were no longer able to care for themselves.
Timings: 18.00 Reception drinks, 18.30 Talk, 19.00 Tour
Tickets: £20 including a glass of wine or soft drink
25th July 2023
Open House Festival 2023 – Architecture of the Almshouse
Join an expert guide to explore the grounds of the Grade I-listed Charterhouse and discover 650 years of architecture from the Black Death to the present day.
Originally a medieval monastery on the edge of the City of London, the Charterhouse was transformed into an opulent Tudor mansion before Thomas Sutton founded his almshouse charity there in 1611. The Charterhouse continues to provide homes for a community of ‘Brothers’, single men and women over 60 in financial and social need.
Book this special tour to learn how the historic buildings weathered the Reformation, a devastating fire, and changing tastes in architecture, and how they continue to serve the needs of the community in the 21st century. Tickets available via Open House Festival (create a free account to register your tickets).
12th May 2023
Architecture of the Almshouse
Join an expert guide to explore the grounds of the Grade I-listed Charterhouse and discover 650 years of architecture from the Black Death to the present day.
Originally a medieval monastery on the edge of the City of London, the Charterhouse was transformed into an opulent Tudor mansion before Thomas Sutton founded his almshouse charity there in 1611. The Charterhouse continues to provide homes for a community of ‘Brothers’, single men and women over 60 in financial and social need.
Book this special tour to learn how the historic buildings weathered the Reformation, a devastating fire, and changing tastes in architecture, and how they continue to serve the needs of the community in the 21st century.
12th May 2023
Charterhouse Square Tours
Step off the busy streets into Charterhouse Square, an oasis on the edge of the City of London. This short tour introduces the architecture of the square including the evocative remains of a Carthusian monastery and a landscaped garden with a surprising history hidden beneath the surface.
After the tour, discover the stories behind the remarkable Charterhouse buildings in our free museum and historic chapel.
24th January 2023
Brothers Tour
Tour duration: Up to 90 mins. Come and discover more about the Charterhouse with a behind the scenes tour led by one of the resident Brothers. These tours are given from the perspective of each individual Brother and therefore no two tours are the same. They provide an in-depth look at the long history of the site and the lifestyle of the Brothers through the centuries and are a unique opportunity to learn more about the nuances of this fascinating historical gem hidden in the heart of London.
