The Charterhouse

In the late fourteenth century there was a flurry of foundations of priories, chantries and churches to pray for the plague victims, and perhaps to encourage God not to visit such a curse on humanity again.

Sir Walter de Mauny was one of those who wished to use some of the wealth that he had accumulated through his success in Edward III’s French wars, for the founding of a Carthusian monastery, near the aforementioned plague burial ground.

They remained until November 1538 when the monastery was dissolved and they were granted small pensions.

North tore down the cloisters and the church, but incorporated the remainder into his new, and rather beautiful mansion.

Whilst Sutton’s foundation and the school were reported on favourably by the Charities Commission, it was decided that the school should be moved to Guildford in Surrey, where it remains – although not extensively populated by poor boys!

The Merchant Taylors’ school purchased the old school buildings and demolished part of them. They in turn sold in 1933 to the Bart’s Hospital Medical School.

As with many foundations that were supported by agricultural rents, the great depression of the 1870s significantly reduced the income available to support the Brothers. Numbers were reduced.

The buildings were devastated during the Blitz, when a bomb hit the chapel roof on the night of 10th May 1941. The buildings were more or less gutted, with the exception of the west end of the Great Hall and Great Chamber, and Washhouse Court.

Restoration took place in the 1940s and 1950s, and, as the financial status of the foundation has improved again, the number of brothers has increased. In September 2016 the first woman pensioner will be joining the community.