The Charterhouse

   Between Goswell Road east and St. John Street Clerkenwell, west, outside the bars of Aldersgate Ward Without.

   Foundation : Michael de Northburgh, Bishop of London, by his Will left £2000 for the foundation of a House according to the ritual of the Carthusian order in a place commonly called "Newchirchehawe," where there is a church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which place and patronage he acquired from Sir Walter de Manny, 1361 (Ct. H.W. II. 61, and Anc. Deeds, B. 2315.)

   In 1370 the Carthusian Order took possession of the monastery, but the Royal licence for its foundation was not granted until 1371 (Hendriks, p. 21).

   In addition to the monastery and 20 acres of land mentioned in the Royal licence, a further grant of 4 acres adjoining his house was made to the Prior out of land belonging to the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem Clerkenwell to make gardens, cells of prior, etc. 1378 (Cal. P.R. Rich. II. 1377-81, p. 238).

   In 1431 a grant was made to the Convent of a spring and land 53 perches in length and 12 ft. in width in the town of Iseldon to lay down pipes in the land and under and across the king's highway for a conduit to bring water from the spring to their house, 9 H. VI. 1431 (Cal. P.R. H. VI. 1429-36, p. 105).

   Sometimes called : New chapel of St. Mary near Westsmythfeld, 1372 (Ct. H.W. II. 148).

   "The Carthusian house of the Salutation of the Blessed Virgin Mary," 1385-6 (Ct. H.W. II. 251).

   "le Charthous," near Smythfeld, 1375 (ib. 178). The "religioies," called "Chartres'," living at the new churchyard without Aldrichesgate, 1382 (ib. 228). "Chartrers'," 1375 (ib. 170).

   Numerous bequests made to them from time to time.

   At the dissolution of the monasteries temp. H. VIII. the site and house of the Charterhouse were granted to Sir Edward North, together with the head and fount of the aqueduct in Islington parish in the field called Condyte Felde and the springs and watercourses leading water to the site of the Charterhouse, 1545 (L. and P. H. VIII. XX. (1), p. 303).

   Sir E. North pulled down most of the cloister. In 1565, Roger, Ld. North sold the greater part to the Duke of Norfolk, by whose attainder the property passed to the Crown.

   Restored to Philip, earl of Arundel, 1581. The earl of Suffolk sold it to Thomas Sutton 1611 (Hendriks, 243-58).

   Thos. Sutton founded a hospital, chapel and school there. The hospital for gentlemen pensioners, at first 80 in number, but afterwards reduced to 55, still remains, but the school was removed in 1872 to Godalming in Surrey, and the buildings sold to the Merchant Taylors' Company, who established their school in the precincts.

   The old buildings consist of the antechapel, the south wall of the chapel and the west wall of the great hall-with parts of old Howard House, the great staircase, etc.