The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will open the new development at the Charterhouse, Charterhouse Square, London
ROYAL COMMUNICATIONS
OPERATIONAL NOTE
Tuesday 28th February 2017
Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, will visit and formally open the new development at the Charterhouse in Central London on Tuesday 28th February.
Upon arrival, The Queen and The Duke will be greeted by senior representatives of the Charterhouse. They will view a 3D representation of the redeveloped site and meet members of the design, building and landscaping teams. Inside the building, Her Majesty will visit the newly created Learning Centre and museum facilities, while His Royal Highness will meet staff and governors in the Great Hall. To conclude, The Queen and The Duke will take part in a short ceremony and plaque unveiling in the Chapel.
Background Information
The Charterhouse is located immediately adjacent to the ancient boundaries of the City of London in Clerkenwell, in the London Borough of Islington. Originally constructed in 1371 on the site of a Black Death burial ground, the building began life as a Cathusian monastery, which flourished during the late Medieval and early Tudor period. It has since served as a private mansion, a boys’ school and an almshouse, which it remains today. Formally know as Sutton’s Hospital in Charterhouse, the building is a registered charity.
The site’s rich heritage is now being opened up to the public for the first time, through a £4m redevelopment project known as Revealing the Charterhouse. This has seen the creation of a Learning Centre and Museum, improved landscaping in external areas, and the accompanying redevelopment of Charterhouse Square, on to which the building faces. The new facilities opened to the public on 27th January 2017 and it is anticipated that over 100,000 people, including 2000 school students, will visit over the next twelve months. The redevelopment project has received support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a number of other trusts, foundations, businesses and individuals.
Residents of the almshouse are known as “brothers.” With a minimum age of sixty, they are selected from a range of professions including education, the clergy, and the arts. Those who become brothers are considered in need of financial support.
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