A ‘MASQUERADE Ball’ is to take place in the walled garden of Coventry’s 14th Century Charterhouse as part of a fundraising push.
Tickets are available for 200 people and the event will be hosted by the Lord Mayor, John Blundell.
The event will celebrate the securing of funding that has enabled restoration works later this year.
The Charterhouse Midsummer Ball will be staged on Saturday, July 21 and will be the first marquee event of a packed schedule of fundraisers.
The ball is part of continued fundraising efforts by Historic Coventry Trust – a conservation organisation – for the Charterhouse with the main feature being to create a visionary 70-acre Heritage Park.
The Grade I Listed Charterhouse is set in parkland along the River Sherbourne off London Road just outside the city centre.
The Carthusian monastery is one of Coventry’s oldest buildings and is being restored to become a leading visitor attraction to coincide with Coventry being the UK City of Culture in 2021.
The plans include creating inter-active displays charting the long history of The Charterhouse, which was founded by King Richard II in 1385, and the recreation of two monks’ cells set in the walled garden along with a café, restaurant and venue for weddings and business conferences.
Ian Harrabin, chairman of the Historic Coventry Trust , said The Charterhouse Midsummer Ball would hopefully become an annual event.
He said: “The setting in the inner precinct is very special and we will be celebrating on the very site where the monks lived in silence over 600 years ago. There is a great sense of calm and beauty in the place which will make it an exceptional evening.
“The Midsummer Ball will be an evening to remember and will be totally different to other events of this kind because of the setting within the cloister gardens of a Carthusian Monastery.
“Fundraising nights such as this are vital to help us reach our target since we hope to start construction work in January.
“We hope as many people as possible will be able to come along to make it a night to remember.”
The partnership with Coventry City Council has secured major grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Historic England and a number of national charities.
Funding of £8million has been secured so far towards the £10.5million cost of the Charterhouse.
A further grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the restoration of the adjoining London Road cemetery will be determined later this month which will be integrated into the Heritage Park.
The Midsummer-themed black tie masked ball will include a champage reception from 7pm, an auction and raffle with fantastic prices, music from a string quartet, dinner and dancing until midnight.
For further information and tickets, contact Maggie Thomson at [email protected]
