COVENTRY’S iconic Charterhouse welcomed visitors for the first time in its 600-year history today (March 30) after £12million of fundraising and years of restoration work.
The grade I listed building, which was saved by Historic Coventry Trust, now features three restored wall paintings of national importance and is set in 70 acres of Heritage Park.
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Graham Tait (Assistant Director HCT) takes a look at the wall paintings. Picture by Marcus Mingins 1323014MMR3 www.buyphotos247.com
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Graham Tait (Assistant Director HCT) takes a look at the wall paintings. Picture by Marcus Mingins 1323014MMR2 www.buyphotos247.com
Charterhouse, the only Carthusian monastery in the country to survive with intact interiors, will officially be open to the public this Saturday, April 1.
Picture by Marcus Mingins 1323014MMR7 www.buyphotos247.com
It will also be home to ‘Purnell’s at Charterhouse’, a new café and bar operated by Michelin-star chef Glynn Purnell.
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Chef Glynn Purnell. Picture by Marcus Mingins 1323014MMR4 www.buyphotos247.com
The new attraction includes displays charting the site’s long history as well as the re-landscaped monastic inner precinct, which is now a walled garden.
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Picture by Marcus Mingins 1323014MMR6 www.buyphotos247.com
The building was officially opened earlier today, with a ceremonial key handed to local residents, partners and members of Historic Coventry Trust.
The Trust was formed over a decade ago to save the Charterhouse after it went up for sale.
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Chef Glynn Purnell and Ian Harrabin (Chair HCT). Picture by Marcus Mingins 1323014MMR5 www.buyphotos247.com
Its founder and chair Ian Harrabin said: “This is quite a momentous day after a decade of work from local people, Historic Coventry Trust, Coventry City Council and others, in not only ensuring this fantastic building was saved, but also bringing it back to life for the benefit of local people and visitors from across the country.
“The effort has really united local people who have worked tirelessly to make sure we reached this point and I cannot thank everyone enough for everything they have done.
“We look forward to welcoming people from Coventry, Warwickshire and across the UK to come and see what has been achieved and to enjoy an asset that we are really lucky to have here in Coventry.”
The Charterhouse restoration project proved the catalyst for a unique heritage “movement” which has seen a string of historically-important buildings restored and made available to the public.
The two gatehouses in the city wall and a row of half-timbered cottages have been restored, as has Drapers’ Hall, which was empty for decades and is now a music centre.
Charterhouse is open between 10am and 4pm every Thursday to Sunday.
Visit historiccoventrytrust.org.uk to book tickets.
