For the Love of the British Isles: CHARTERHOUSE SQUARE

.........and Hercule Poirot.

Yes, one side of the square is taken up for the greater part, with the amazing Art Deco block of apartments called Florin Court, once home to the renowned Belgian detective Hercule Poirot

But my main interest lies with the Charterhouse itself. Today, its' core purpose is to offer a community for elderly people in financial and social need. More than 40 Brothers have their homes here.

Visitors cannot access the residences obviously, but there is an excellent museum detailing the history and life of the Charterhouse, a learning centre, the chapel, and the beautiful gardens in the Square to explore - and it's all free!

Everywhere you go, you will see the Arms of Thomas Sutton, the founder of the school and the associated community. Here, they decorate the apex of the arches in the chapel:

Charterhouse began as a monastery for Carthusian monks, and the resident community still abide by their rules. The religious community was established here on the site of a Black Death burial ground, which was opened in 1348. In 1371, the Carthusian Monastery, called 'The House of the Salutation of the Mother of God' was opened.

In the garden is a model of how the monastery would have looked.

In 1535, Prior John Houghton was executed for treason, and the monastery was closed, with the land being seized by the Crown.

In 1545, it was bought by Sir Edward North, and the ruined buildings reconstructed as a house. It was later purchased by the Duke of Norfolk and renamed Howard House.

Thomas Sutton petitioned Parliament for leave to establish his charity. He died shortly afterwards, and his executors continued to fulfill his wishes.

The long form of the Charity's name is 'Sutton's Hospital in Charterhouse' after the founder, Thomas Sutton (1532-1611) and he is buried in the chapel, in a most magnificent marble edifice.

Thomas was a self-made man, whose shrewd business dealings made him into England's wealthiest commoner. He used his wealth to establish a school for the young and an almshouse for the old.

His coat of arms is surmounted by a Medieval Hunting Dog (very much like an over-sized greyhound in shape), and these dogs can also be seen on pew ends in the Chapel, and in the plaster ceilings.

In 1614, Sutton's Hospital opened to the first scholars and Poor Brothers. However, in 1687, the staunchly Protestant Governers defied James II's request to admit a Catholic as a Brother.

Over the centuries, Charterhouse has been home to many notable people. Among them was Tobias Hume, who died in 1645.

Tobias was a professional soldier, who also composed pieces for the viola da gamba.

Hume - Love's Farewell

Little is known of his life. Some have suggested that he was born in 1579 because he was admitted to the London Charterhouse in 1629, a prerequisite to which was being at least 50 years old, though there is no certainty over this. He had made his living as a professional soldier, serving as an officer with the Swedish and Russian armies.

Hume was also known as a prankster, as some of his somewhat unusual compositions illustrate. His most notorious piece was "An Invention for Two to Play upone one Viole", also known as Prince's Almayne. Two bows are required and the smaller of the two players is obliged to sit in the lap of the larger player!

Many others are remembered with plaques in the church and the vestibule, which was originally part of the old church.

In 1717 Elizabeth Holford bequeathed £4,700 to provide university scholarships for the schoolboys.

In 1872, Charterhouse School moved to Godalming in Surrey, and the Merchant Taylor's School bought the vacated site for £90,000

The buildings came very close to being demolished in 1886, but the proposal was withdrawn before assent was given - which is why we still have this lovely complex today.

In 1919, it was decreed that the Brothers no longer had to wear black cloaks in public.

All was quiet until 1941, when the Brothers were evacuated from a devasting fire caused by an incendiary bomb.

The complex was restored by 1958, and opened to the public in 2016. It is well-worth a visit. The chapel is amazing, and the little museum fascinating.

OK, so you rock up to Charterhouse and go through the pretty formal garden. That itself, is interesting

This garden was built on the site of the original Priory church. The stone slab towards the top of the picture, marks the burial site of the monastery's principal founder, Walter Manny, who died in 1372. The plaque above commemorates the monks and lay brothers who resisted the religious reforms of Henry VIII. They were put to death, the monastery was closed, and the buildings left in ruins.

The Museum is a fascinating insight into the history of the Charterhouse - from the founding by Sir Thomas Sutton, to the skeleton of a young man, accidentally discovered during works in the garden, who died of the Black Death in 1348-9. Probably now the oldest Charterhouse resident.

It was known that the gardens in the Square outside the Priory, were laid on a plague pit. There were many of these across London, where bodies were just thrown into a pit, unmarked and unmourned, because there were so many of them.

However, in the garden next to where the original Priory church stood, was found a grave containing 25 holy brothers, victims of that same plague. In this case, the bodies had been gently laid to rest in an orderly fashion.

24 of them were re-buried with respect due to them. The 25th. skeleton, the young man, was taken for gentle examination, where his teeth proved the cause of death. He was then reverently re-buried in an open coffin and placed in the Museum. Whether you feel that is right and proper is your decision, and it's not my business to discuss or judge here.

Among the many artefacts in the museum, are examples of works by former scholars. These are examples of decorated envelopes sent to his cildren by William Chignell

And books written by inmate Simon Raven (oh dear, that makes him sound like a prisoner :D )

Two fragments from Sir Walter Manny's tomb have survived, which shows how splendid it must have been. It was originally in front of the altar of the Priory church.

There are several albums of old photographs of Charterhouse

Entering the complex, the vestibule on the right, was once part of the original church. It is full of plaques and tablets, commemorating many past brothers, and students of Charterhouse School, before its move to leafy Surrey. The church also holds many memorials.

One of the first items to draw the eye is a replica of a Carthusian monk's habit. It is still the same as it has always been - still made from undyed wool

Before we get onto all the plaques, and the glories of the church itself, here are one or two other oddities and notable points

Here's a door. Or precisely, the remains of a door, now affixed to the wall next to the doorway it used to fill.

It is here as a reminder of the great fire of 1941, that happened as the result of a direct hit of an incendiary bomb. The door was hastily closed to protect the niterior of the chapel.

This is the beautifully carved screen that cordons off a side chapel

Equally Exquisite is the west organ gallery, bearing the arms of Sir Thomas Sutton.

This is the main altar - stunning in its' simplicity, and even more so in it's setting

The arcade has the arms of Sir Thomas at every apex, and, although they're hard to see, the ceiling above is scattered with tiny dogs' head carvings.

And so onto notable people - both Brothers and Scholars. Some you will know, others less so.

These two lists are self-explanatory, so I'll just leave them here.

And onto the plethora of tablets, plaques and memorials. Sadly, I couldn't photograph all of them, so these are just a taster.

Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB, KStJ, DL was a British Army officer, writer, founder of The Boy Scouts Association and its first Chief Scout, and founder, with his sister Agnes, of The Girl Guides.

Mrs. Ann Kemshead, who died age 61, in 1798, was once Matron of the Charterhouse School.

Sir Richmond Campbell Shakespear KGB, who died 1861, formerly of the Bengal Artillery and agent to the Governor General for Central India. He was an Indian-born British Indian Army officer. He helped to influence the Khan of Khiva to abolish the capture and selling of Russian slaves in Khiva. This likely forestalled the Russian conquest of the Khiva, although it ultimately did not prevent it.

Richmond Shakespear was the youngest son of John Talbot Shakespear and Amelia Thackeray, who both served in the Bengal Civil Service. Amelia was the eldest daughter of William Makepeace Thackeray, grandfather of the novelist of the same name.

Roger Williams was an English-born New England Baptist minister, theologian, author, and founder of the Providence Plantations, which became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and later the State of Rhode Island.

He was a staunch advocate for religious liberty, separation of church and state, and fair dealings with the Native Americans.

Williams was expelled by the Puritan leaders from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and he established Providence Plantations in 1636 as a refuge, offering what he termed "liberty of conscience" making Rhode Island the first government in the Western world to guarantee religious freedom in its founding charter. His ideas on religious tolerance and civil government directly influenced the principles later enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Williams studied the language of the New England Native Americans and published the first book-length study of it in English.

John Wesley - if you're British you won't need any introduction to him. He was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who was a principal leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The societies he founded became the dominant form of the independent Methodist movement that continues to this day.

Throughout his life, Wesley remained within the established Church of England, insisting that the Methodist movement lay well within its tradition. In his early ministry years, Wesley was barred from preaching in many parish churches and the Methodists were persecuted; he later became widely respected, and by the end of his life, was described as "the best-loved man in England".

John Hullah (1812-1884) was a composer and Professor of Vocal Music at King's College from 1843 until 1874.
He trained at the Royal Academy of Music and achieved an early success co-writing a comic opera with Charles Dickens entitled The Village Coquettes, which ran from 1836-1837.
Hullah composed numerous songs and operas but achieved lasting distinction as a leading advocate of the reform of music teaching, in particular by popularising Wilhem's method of teaching song in which the untutored and groups could easily participate.
He was organist at Charterhouse from 1858 and from 1872 was musical inspector of training schools for the Royal Academy of Music. He died in 1884.

Former headmaster of Charterhouse,

1832–1853: The Revd Dr Augustus Page Saunders

Nicholas Mann (died 1753) was an English antiquary and Master of Charterhouse.

He travelled in France and Italy, and on his return was appointed king's waiter at the custom house, and keeper of the standing wardrobe at Windsor. Through the interest of the Marlborough family he was elected master of the Charterhouse on 19 August 1737. At his institution he is said to have shocked the Archbishop of Canterbury by professing himself an Arian. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1738 and was appointed a vice-president of the society in 1751.

Following the departure of Charterhouse School to Surrey, in 1875 the buildings were taken over by the Merchant Taylor's School They remained there until 1933

The vestibule leading into the church, once formed part of the original Priory church. There are many tomb slabs inset into the floor, and these have been conserved and restored where possible with the support of the Worshipful Company of Grocers, one of the many Guilds active in the City of London.

Sir William Yorke, 1st Baronet PC (c. 1700 – 30 September 1776) was an English-born politician and judge in eighteenth-century Ireland, who held office as Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas and as Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland. His last years were plagued by ill health.

Yorke, who was suffering agonies from a kidney stone, had been prescribed laudanum (liquid opium) to alleviate the pain. Although the servant had been instructed by the apothecary as to the proper dosage, on the day in question he evidently forgot his instructions, and simply handed the full bottle of laudanum to Yorke, who was in such pain from his kidney stone that he drank it all at one sitting. He died an hour later from the effects of the overdose.

John Jones (1728 – 1796) was an English organist, who served at the St Paul's Cathedral. He was a composer of two volumes of harpsichord lessons, as well as some of the earliest Anglican psalm chants.

William Ramsden, wife and son. William Ramsden was a Doctor of Divinity and Master of Charterhouse

Richard John Samuel Stevens (27 March 1757 – 23 September 1837) was an English composer and organist. Stevens's chief claim to attention is as a composer of glees. He was not prolific, considering the length of his life; the bulk of his composing was done between 1780 and 1800.

He was Organist of Charterhouse 1796-1837

1769–1791: The Revd Dr Samuel Berdmore, Master of Charterhouse

George Edward Jelf D.D., Master of Charterhouse. In 1907 he was appointed Master of Charterhouse in succession to William Haig Brown. He was in poor health shortly after moving to London, and he died on 19 November 1908 at the Master's lodge, Charterhouse.

Alfred Chune Fletcher, Medical Officer to Charterhouse, member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; Senior House Surgeon, St Bartholemew’s Hospital, London.