The Charterhouse near the Barbican in London, is a building rich with imagery of death, dying and the afterlife. The land on which it stands was used as a burial ground during the period of the Black Plague, becoming a Carthusian Monastery later in the fourteenth century, and today is an almshouse, and home to a community of Brothers.
The Charterhouse opened its doors to the public for the first time in 400 years on 27 January 2017. The Art of Dying Well team visited the house on Wednesday 1 February to explore its monastic history and its current use as an almshouse.
The land upon which the Charterhouse was built was originally used as a burial ground for victims of the Black Plague. In 1371, Sir Walter de Manny founded a Carthusian monastery on the site with the intentions to pray for the souls of those buried there.
The Charterhouse remained a working monastery until 1530, at which point it became home to wealthy noblemen and a refuge for royals fleeing religious persecution.
In 1611 Thomas Sutton bought the Charterhouse and established a foundation to care for ‘either decrepit or old captaynes either at sea or at land, maimed or disabled soldiers, merchants fallen on hard times, those ruined by shipwreck of other calamity’.
Under Thomas Sutton, the Charterhouse became both an almshouse for disadvantaged men and a school to educate young boys. The school has since moved to Godalming but legend suggests that when it was still housed in the monastery, the boys would play ball games along the cloisters. The shape and size of the space meant that it is likely that the offside rule was invented here!
The house and grounds are scattered with imagery related to life, death and relationship between the two. From saints to sepulchres, death, dying and the afterlife are referenced throughout the house.
Of particular note is the tomb of Thomas Sutton. On either side of an imposing skull are two cherub-like figures. The figure on the right warns against untimely death, which is demonstrated by the scythe that the figure carries. The figure on the left appears to be blowing bubbles, which suggests the danger in frivolity and the frittering of money on material things.
The Charterhouse has been in the news more recently for deathly reasons. In March 2013, 25 skeletons were uncovered during the works taking place for Crossrail in Charterhouse Square. Research carried out on the skeletons found traces of the Yersinia Pestis bacterium; responsible for both the bubonic and pneumonic plagues. This was confirmed by evidence of writings found on the site. In 1598, John Stow wrote: ‘In this plot of ground there were in that year, 1349, more than fifty thousand persons buried.’
The Charterhouse is now home to up to 60 older men in need of support. Although contently enjoying the latter years of their lives together, the almshouse at Charterhouse is yet another reminder that we are all on a journey towards death. There was a jovial attitude among the Brothers during our visit; a reminder that although we are constantly surrounded by ideas of death and dying, there is always a reason to enjoy each day.
Read more about making the most of life.