Charterhouse Brothers

Could these walls talk? The Charterhouse Brothers, here in the heart of London, have witnessed centuries of stories. Established in 1611 by Thomas Sutton, this isn’t just a building. It’s a living testament to resilience, charity, and a touch of royal intrigue. Charterhouse Brothers, originally intended as a “hospital” for eighty “poor brothers,” continues Sutton’s vision today, providing housing and support. Though the residents aren’t exclusively men anymore, they are still called “Brothers.” But long before Sutton’s generosity, this land held a darker history. During the Black Death in 1348, Charterhouse Square served as a mass burial ground for plague victims. Later, a Carthusian monastery rose from the ashes, a place of quiet contemplation and prayer. This tranquility shattered with Henry VIII’s Reformation. The prior and monks who resisted the Act of Supremacy met grim fates. The Charterhouse became a grand Tudor mansion, hosting royalty like Elizabeth I, who held her first Privy Council meeting in the Great Chamber. Later, James I knighted 130 men in the same room. Thomas Sutton, a man of vast wealth from coal mining and moneylending, acquired the Charterhouse in 1611. He established a school for forty “poor boys” alongside the almshouse for the “Brothers.” The school eventually moved to Surrey, but the almshouse remains, the Brothers still dining together in the Great Hall. Charterhouse Brothers bears the scars of the Blitz, a half-charred door a poignant reminder of the 1941 bombing. Today, the Charterhouse Brothers’ story continues, a blend of medieval tragedy, Tudor grandeur, and enduring charity.