The Charterhouse, Coventry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charterhouse |
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| General information | |
| Status | Grade I listed |
| Town or city | Coventry |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 52°24′03″N 1°29′41″W / 52.4009°N 1.4947°W |
| Completed | 14th century |
| Owner | Historic Coventry Trust |
The Charterhouse, Coventry is a very old and important building in Coventry, England. It is also known as St. Anne's Priory, Coventry. This historic site is located on London Road in the West Midlands. It is a special building because it has a "Grade I listed" status. This means it is one of the most important historic buildings in the country.
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Discovering Charterhouse's History
The Charterhouse building you see today has parts from a much older monastery. This monastery was called St Anne's Charterhouse. Its first stone was laid in 1385 by King Richard II. Over the years, new parts were added in the 15th and 16th centuries.
What is a Charterhouse?
A charterhouse was a type of monastery. It was home to a group of monks called Carthusians. These monks lived a very quiet and simple life. They spent most of their time in prayer and study.
Changes Over Time
The Charterhouse stopped being a monastery a long time ago. This happened during a period known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries. After this, the building was used for other purposes. From 1848 until about 1940, it was a private home. Later, it became a place for arts and culture.
Some parts of the original building are still there. You can still see some of the old window designs, called tracery. There are also several old wall paintings inside. These paintings date back to the 15th and 16th centuries.
Protecting a Historic Site
The Charterhouse is part of a group of important historic buildings. This group includes the Coach House and the Medieval Precinct Wall. The Charterhouse itself is a "Grade I listed building". The precinct wall is "Grade II* listed", and the coach house is "Grade II listed". This means they are all protected because of their history. The entire site is also a "Scheduled Ancient Monument". This gives it even more protection.
For a while, the building was on the Heritage at Risk Register. This meant its roof had problems and it needed repairs. But thanks to people in the community, the building was saved. It is now owned by a charity called Historic Coventry Trust. This trust works to fix up and protect historic places. They received help from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other groups.
The good news is that the Charterhouse was removed from the "Heritage at Risk Register" in 2022. It was then opened to the public in April 2023. Now, people can visit and learn about its long history.
Location and Surroundings
The Charterhouse is located near the River Sherbourne. This is the main river that flows through Coventry. Not far from the Charterhouse, you can see the Sherbourne Viaduct. This is a railway bridge that carries trains over the river.
