The Charterhouse, Coventry bronze plaque

This bronze commemorative plaque records: The Charterhouse The Carthusian priory of St. Anne was founded in 1381and King Richard II laid the foundation stone in 1385. The Carthusians originated in Chartreuse in France, hence the name Charterhouse given to their monasteries. Unlike most monks, Carthusians were a “silent” order, only speaking to one another on special occasions. They lived alone in their cells, which were small two storey, detached houses. Twelve cells were located on the other side of the building around a courtyard or cloister in what is now the garden. The cells were demolished in the period after 1539 when Henry VIII closed the priory and evicted the monks (the Dissolution) The stone building contained the monks’ refectory (left) and the priors’ lodgings (right). The timber-framed end was probably added in the sixteenth century after the building became a. private house. One of the treasures is the lower part of a wall painting that dominated the refectory. It was probably finished about 1471 soon after the building was constructed and depicts the crucifixion of Christ. The church was situated in the open ground immediately to the left, but was also demolished in the Dissolution. Its plan was revealed in the excavations (1984-7) but these were reburied and cannot be seen. Coventry City Council 2008 Recorded plaque organisation: Coventry City Council.