8th October 2020
The renaissance of the Great Chamber
Revealing the newly refurbished and renovated Great Chamber at the Charterhouse
The Charterhouse, the seven-acre historic site on the edge of the City of London, is delighted to announce the completion of the major refurbishment of the Great Chamber, the jewel in the crown of our Tudor history. Made possible with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and our generous donors, the works started in January and have involved a host of artisan specialists under the direction of Richard Griffiths Architects who were awarded the commission.
Discover the Great Chamber here.
The Lord Mayor of the City of London was kind enough to join us on 7th October for a private virtual launch, featuring talks from many of the key players involved, and offering the Master, Ann Kenrick, the opportunity to thank the donors, The Wolfson Foundation, the Linbury Trust, and the Schroder Foundation, and all those who contributed to creating the grand new interior.
As the doors were opened to reveal the transformation, Alderman William Russell, the Rt Hon the Lord Mayor of the City of London said: “As a member of the Charterhouse’s Development Committee, I am very excited to see the success of this project in person. In my view it is one of the most splendid rooms in London, if not the country, and now this magnificent space has been restored to its former glory and fit for a queen once again. I hope, as I am sure we all hope, that visitors will be able to enjoy it and appreciate its majesty for themselves soon.”
In normal times we would be throwing open our doors to the public to discover the sumptuous changes in person but, as an almshouse charity, we need to stay closed during the pandemic until we can ensure the safety of our older and more vulnerable residents. In the meantime, we have created a virtual experience of the transformed Great Chamber on our website, where you can discover more about its history, the splendid collection of portraits now on display, and the detail of the refurbishment project.
The aim of the project was to create a more environmentally sustainable interior that also did better justice to the Chamber’s extraordinary history and splendour. The project will also ensure the Chamber’s suitability for an expanded range of ways it can be shared with the public. Our plans are of course on hold, but as soon as we can open again the intention is to attract new audiences to concerts, exhibitions, and other events to raise income for the Charterhouse charity – the almshouse originally established in 1611 and still flourishing today. The funding award will also go toward staffing and implementing an outreach programme aimed at introducing diverse audiences from the local community to the history of the Charterhouse and its purpose today. We have already initiated this Community Engagement programme, running creative online workshops, inspired by aspects of the Great Chamber and its portraits, with partners such as North London Cares, Age UK Islington, and BlindAid.
Project background
The Great Chamber represents an important example of London’s history, originally built by Edward North in the 1540s, and referred to as the ‘Throne Room’ after Elizabeth I held her first Privy Council there before being crowned Queen of England. The Chamber was the backdrop to decades of Tudor intrigue and plotting and remained the jewel in this grand Tudor Mansion until it suffered serious bomb damage during WW2. After the war a major project was initiated to renovate the room to match the one remaining undamaged section, and has been well used and much admired since.
Richard Griffiths Architects were selected, after a competitive tender process, to conceive and implement the redesign. A significant new development was the moving of the Charterhouse’s most notable portraits onto the walls of the Chamber, having been cleaned and renovated by conservator Jim Dimond.
The New Great Chamber
The new design references several different architectural schemes from different centuries. The colours from the fireplace and overmantel (dating from the 16th and 17th centuries) ar carried throughout the space and a green silk moiré provides the backdrop for our important collection of Restoration portraits. The floor has been replaced with boards of varying sizes and widths, referencing its post-Reformation origins.
The portraits of the Charterhouse
The works to be hung in the Great Chamber comprise large seventeenth century oil paintings of our Restoration era governors and include portraits of some of the periods most influential and controversial Royals, politicians and religious leaders. The pre-eminence of the sitters attests to the prominence of the Charterhouse during the period. They include portraits of the Duke of Monmouth, the Earl of Craven, the Duke of Buckingham, Gilbert Sheldon (Archbishop of Canterbury), Anthony Ashely Cooper – first Earl of Shaftesbury and Charles II.
The collection is mentioned in Vertue’s notebooks in 1736. The collection continued to be highly regarded and discussed in numerous documentary sources of the 18th and 19th centuries. In May 1941 the Charterhouse was bombed and the paintings were evacuated and did not return to London until 1957, by which time it seems that they had slipped from public and academic consciousness. Recent funding from the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art has enabled on-going research which has established the collection’s broader cultural and historic significance, both to the institution and wider fields of academic study.
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You can watch the video of the Great Chamber being formally opened by the Lord Mayor of London here.
Editor’s notes
· The Charterhouse, set deep within stone walls in the heart of Clerkenwell, is a remarkable assembly of historic buildings dating from the 14thcentury. Over the years it has been a monastery, a grand Tudor mansion, a school and, as it has remained for over 400 years, an almshouse. In January 2017 parts of the Charterhouse opened to the public for the first time in its 660 year history, revealing to the public the great story of this sprawling urban oasis at the heart of London, and thereby raising income for the charity and maintenance of the buildings. To find out more about the Charterhouse, its almshouse, museum, tours, venue hire and learning centre please visit www.thecharterhouse.org
· About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
· For further information about Richard Griffiths Architects visit https://www.rgarchitects.com/
· For further information about Jim Dimond visit http://www.jdimond.co.uk/
4th July 2020
The Charterhouse announces the appointment of new Preacher
The Charterhouse, the 7-acre almshouse and historic site between Barbican and Farringdon, is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Preacher, The Revd. Canon Ann Clarke. Canon Ann joins the Charterhouse from her role as Associate Priest for the Wanstead parish in London, previous to which she was Priest -in-Charge in North Bersted and an Honorary Canon for Chichester Cathedral.
Canon Ann says: “The challenging and exciting times I have been through both in Parish ministry and secular employment should equip me well to support the Charterhouse as it looks to becoming a more outward looking institution.
I am passionate about inclusivity and would see it as my role to involve, stimulate and engage those who want to be involved, and give of my best to be a catalyst for cohesion and harmony.”
The role of Preacher goes back to when the Charterhouse charity was founded by Thomas Sutton in 1611. Today it is not only a role concerned with the religious life of the residents (known as Brothers) here, but includes the pastoral care and wellbeing of the whole community whether religious or not, and the development of the Charterhouse’s outreach and role in the wider community in Islington and the City.
Ann has more than 45 years experience both in education and in diverse roles in the Church. Her work has often focused on inclusivity and working in local communities, offering counselling as well as spiritual guidance. Her energy, modern outlook, wisdom and relevant experience make Canon Ann a very good and positive fit here at this charitable institution which is home to over 40 older people from different backgrounds.
The Brothers and Governors all took an active part in interviewing and selection, and when the final decision was made, Dr Michael Harding, one of the Governors said: “At this time of challenge, the appointment of Canon Ann is such a joy and full of promise; her passion, enthusiasm and experience will be most welcome.”
Ann will be moving to the Charterhouse in September, and taking over the role previously held by the Revd. Robin Isherwood for five years and who has now retired.
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Editor’s notes:
The Revd. Canon Ann Clarke
Ann felt called to the priesthood aged just 14 and, 37 years and a teaching career later, this calling was finally fulfilled. Ann served her title at St Gabriel’s Aldersbrook followed by eight years as Team Rector of Becontree South in Dagenham. She then became Priest-in-Charge of North Bersted for eight years in the Diocese of Chichester and is a Canon Emerita of Chichester Cathedral. She has most recently been an Associate Priest in the Parish of Wanstead, East London.
9th April 2020
Message from the Chairman
I hope this message finds you and your families well at this strange and anxious time. Life at the Charterhouse has changed out of all recognition as the Master and Governors have instigated a series of measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Brothers. They are now effectively ‘locked down’ in their apartments, only leaving to collect meals and to exercise within the grounds.
The Brothers have adapted to these constraints with stoicism and good humour. Their determination to beat this dreadful virus is second to none and their attitude has been admirable, individually and collectively. Our staff have risen to the challenge wonderfully well, whether personally caring for the Brothers or working from home. I also recognise here those members of staff who have been temporarily ‘furloughed’, accepting as they do that this is in the best interests of the charity.
Above all I pay tribute to the inspirational leadership being displayed by our Master Ann Kenrick. She carries an enormous burden on her shoulders and is an immensely reassuring and capable presence to the Brothers and staff alike. We are fortunate indeed to have her.
The seriousness of the battle we face is hard to exaggerate. We have been greatly sustained by the many messages of encouragement and support for the Brothers and for our dedicated staff. They are much appreciated so please keep them coming. The Charterhouse has faced many vicissitudes in its 400-year history (though few as insidious as this invisible enemy); we have overcome them all and I am confident that we will defeat this one too.
I end with the words of Her Majesty The Queen, our principal Royal Governor, in her remarkable broadcast to the nation:
“..We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”
Major General Andrew Ritchie CBE
2nd April 2020
Dr William Frankland 1912 – 2020
We are deeply saddened by the death this week of Dr Bill Frankland – a private resident here in the care home at the Charterhouse for the last two years.
Dr Bill, as we knew him, was an extraordinary man, highly revered and admired by the medical world and beyond for his pioneering working in allergies and immunology. Extraordinary also that he had just celebrated his 108th birthday! Right up until recently he was still writing academic papers, and was still frequently being interviewed by national and international media wanting to tap into his exceptional knowledge and expertise. He was also often asked for the secret of his longevity to which he always responded that it was his work, and an active and enquiring mind that kept him alert and alive.
Despite being a little frail, Dr Bill was an active participant in activities here at the Charterhouse, regularly eating in the Great Hall with the Brothers, and joining in Dancercise every week. He always had a story to tell – whether about his time at Oxford, in the war, or at St Mary’s Hospital College, now part of Imperial – many of which were gripping and fascinating.
Ann Kenrick, the Master of the Charterhouse, adds: “We are very proud to have been able to care for this eminent man and to make a comfortable home for him in the QEII Infirmary here at the Charterhouse. We send his family and friends our sincerest condolences. The staff, Brothers and volunteers will all miss him very much.”
(The photo shows Dr Bill admiring a bottle of the beer brewed especially for him by his old Oxford college)
28th January 2019
The Charterhouse wins National Lottery Funding for major Great Chamber project
The Charterhouse, the seven-acre historic site on the border of the City of London, is delighted to announce its success in being awarded National Lottery funding of £391,100 to renovate its unique Great Chamber, the last surviving Tudor Great Chamber in London. Additional funding from The Wolfson Foundation, the Linbury Trust, and the Schroder Foundation will also support this major project.
Made possible with money raised by National Lottery Players and supported through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), the new refurbishment project aims to do better justice to the Chamber’s extraordinary history and splendour. The project will also ensure the Chamber’s suitability for an expanded range of ways it can be shared with the public.
Richard Griffiths Architects were selected, after a competitive tender process, to conceive and implement the redesign. A significant new development will be the moving of the Charterhouse’s most notable portraits onto the walls of the Chamber, having been by conservator Jim Dimond.
Once renovated the intention is to attract new audiences to concerts, exhibitions, and other events to raise income for the Charterhouse charity – the almshouse originally established in 1611 and still flourishing today.
Head of Heritage Lottery Fund London Stuart Hobley says: “Many incredible historic events have taken place within the four walls of the Great Chamber of the Charterhouse, with both Elizabeth I and James I holding court there. Thanks to National Lottery players, the renovation of this grand room will not only allow visitors to follow in those royal footsteps, but also opens it up to new and exciting experiences that will further build on its already rich heritage.”
Development Director Dominic Tickell says: “We are delighted and very proud to have our project here at the Charterhouse selected for an award by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The scope of the planned refurbishment of the Great Chamber embraces three ambitions – to conserve and maintain a unique and splendid example of London’s history, to ensure that it meets environmental and accessibility standards now and for the future, and to create a more inspiring and exciting space to welcome new audiences to the Charterhouse.”
The award will also go toward staffing and implementing an outreach programme aimed at introducing diverse audiences from the local community to the history of the Charterhouse and its purpose today.
The Great Chamber was originally built by Edward North in the 1540s, and referred to as the ‘Throne Room’ after Elizabeth I held her first Privy Council there before being crowned Queen of England. The Chamber was the backdrop to decades of Tudor intrigue and plotting and remained the jewel in this grand Tudor Mansion until it suffered serious bomb damage during WW2. After the war a major project was initiated to renovate the room to match the one remaining undamaged section, and has been well used and much admired since.
The New Great Chamber
The new design references several different architectural schemes from different centuries. The colours from the fireplace and overmantel (dating from the 16th and 17th centuries) will be carried throughout the space and a green silk moire will provide the backdrop for our important collection of Restoration portraits. The floor will be replaced with boards of varying sizes and widths, referencing its post-Reformation origins.
The portraits of the Charterhouse
The works to be hung in the Great Chamber comprise large seventeenth century oil paintings of our Restoration era governors and include portraits of some of the periods most influential and controversial Royals, politicians and religious leaders. The pre-eminence of the sitters attests to the prominence of the Charterhouse during the period. They include portraits of the Duke of Monmouth, the Earl of Craven, the Duke of Buckingham, Gilbert Sheldon (Archbishop of Canterbury), Anthony Ashely Cooper – first Earl of Shaftesbury and Charles II.
The collection is mentioned in Vertue’s notebooks in 1736. The collection continued to be highly regarded and discussed in numerous documentary sources of the 18th and 19th centuries. In May 1941 the Charterhouse was bombed and the paintings were evacuated and did not return to London until 1957, by which time it seems that they had slipped from public and academic consciousness. Recent funding from the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art has enabled on-going research which has established the collection’s broader cultural and historic significance, both to the institution and wider fields of academic study.
Ends
For further information please contact Charlotte Borger on charlotte.borger@thecharterhouse.org
Editor’s notes
- The Charterhouse, set deep within stone walls in the heart of Clerkenwell, is a remarkable assembly of historic buildings dating from the 14thcentury. Over the years it has been a monastery, a grand Tudor mansion, a school and, as it has remained for over 400 years, an almshouse. In January 2017 parts of the Charterhouse opened to the public for the first time in its 660 year history, revealing to the public the great story of this sprawling urban oasis at the heart of London, and thereby raising income for the charity and maintenance of the buildings. To find out more about the Charterhouse, its almshouse, museum, tours, venue hire and learning centre please visit www.thecharterhouse.org
· About the Heritage Lottery Fund
Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about – from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery and #HLFsupported.
17th December 2018
Large glass globe gas-light completes new entrance to the Charterhouse
The Charterhouse, the seven-acre heritage site and almshouse in Clerkenwell EC1, is delighted to announce that the final element of the new entrance to the Charterhouse, designed by Eric Parry Architects, is now in place. The entrance, which was unveiled in January 2017, was a key element of the “Revealing the Charterhouse” project which saw the site opening its doors formally to the public. The large bespoke gas-light, which will run on the same timer as the gas lights in Charterhouse Square, adds the final element to the welcome at the gates.
The light – which has a multiple-mantle housing 16 gas flames – is set in the centre of the cold forged steel canopy, and its contemporary design complements the extraordinary architecture of the estate. The canopy features interwoven metal strands symbolising continuity, community and the overlap of the centuries – all key to the history and life of the Charterhouse. When illuminated, the light, which is 600mm in diameter with a vitreous enamel crown and clear glass globe, lights up the brass plan of the original monastery set into the Scoutmoor York stone paving below, and catches the gilded coats of arms and lettering on the main gates.
Dominic Tickell, Development Director at the Charterhouse and driver behind the Revealing the Charterhouse project, says, “The new light is the focal point of the entrance way and with it now in place the public entrance to the Charterhouse is announced from across the square. The design was a feat of engineering to ensure the right materials and the right effect of the light in the space. It is exciting to see it both in daylight, and when it is illuminated at night.”
The light was designed by Eric Parry RA, and made by Sugg Lighting, and the metalwork of the canopy was created by Chris Brammall Metalwork Ltd. It is believed that the last time a 16 mantel gas light was created was by Sir Aston Webb for Horse Guards Parade in the early 1900s.
The ‘Revealing the Charterhouse’ project included a new museum and learning centre which have now been open for 17 months and have welcomed thousands of visitors, who had never known about the Charterhouse, or what lay behind the mysterious walls between Barbican and Farringdon.
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For high res images and further information please contact Charlotte Borger on charlotte.borger@thecharterhouse.org
Eric Parry Architects is responsible for several highly prestigious commercial projects in the City and West End including 5 Aldermanbury Square, 60 Threadneedle Street, 23 Savile Row and 50 New Bond Street. We are also responsible for cultural projects involving sensitive historic buildings including a significant new wing for the Holburne Museum of Art in Bath, and have completed the restoration and renewal project for the historic St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square. www.ericparryarchitects.co.uk
Artist Blacksmith Chris Brammall is one of the leading architectural and sculptural metalworkers in Great Britain. http://www.chrisbrammall.com/
Sugg Lighting has been supplying interior and exterior decorative and heritage lighting for over 175 years. A world-class leader in its field, Sugg was granted the Royal Warrant in 2008. Examples of its prestigious work can be seen lighting thoroughfares, parks and important buildings throughout London and the world. www.sugglighting.co.uk
