The Charterhouse is one of London's great survivals. The place is called the Charterhouse after the English name for a monastery of the Carthusian order – which is how the buildings began. In 1371, a religious community was established here, on the site of a Black Death burial ground which was opened in 1348. Over the centuries, the Charterhouse became one of the great aristocratic houses of Tudor London; and then, Europe's most well-endowed charity. Contents: Foreword; the Charterhouse; the Museum; the Tour; the Square; Visitor Information AUTHOR: Cathy Ross is Honorary Research Fellow at the Museum of London, where she was Director of Collections and Learning until 2013. She was chief curator for the Museum of London's Galleries of Modern London (2010), and has published widely on museums and London history. Books include 'The Romance of Bethnal Green' (2007); 'London: the Illustrated History' (2008); 'Philanthropy: the City Story' (2013) and 'Designing Utopia: John Hargrave and the Kibbo Kift' (2015).

The Charterhouse is one of London's great survivals. The place is called the Charterhouse after the English name for a monastery of the Carthusian order – which is how the buildings began. In 1371, a religious community was established here, on the site of a Black Death burial ground which was opened in 1348. Over the centuries, the Charterhouse became one of the great aristocratic houses of Tudor London; and then, Europe's most well-endowed charity. Contents: Foreword; the Charterhouse; the Museum; the Tour; the Square; Visitor Information AUTHOR: Cathy Ross is Honorary Research Fellow at the Museum of London, where she was Director of Collections and Learning until 2013. She was chief curator for the Museum of London's Galleries of Modern London (2010), and has published widely on museums and London history. Books include 'The Romance of Bethnal Green' (2007); 'London: the Illustrated History' (2008); 'Philanthropy: the City Story' (2013) and 'Designing Utopia: John Hargrave and the Kibbo Kift' (2015).