Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-17
THE cHARTERHOUSE.
Hi,,cty OF an Ancient Charitable fnstiin,iou
that IL Nearing Its Eed.

nistofy OF an Ancient thartaoie tnfb""""
that IL Nearing Its Eed.
In commenting upon the proposed de-
moltion of the Charterhouse. the Lon
don Times says:
The Charterhouse IN London dates
from the Iavages Of the "black DEATH"
in the fourteenth century. So dire was
the mortality from that fell plague that
it was thought necessary to make ar
rangements for the burial of the dead
outside the city walls. The then Bishop
Of London and Sir Walter Nanny, one OF
Edward III. s captains, together bought
a plot of land extending to about
twenty acres, which was consecrated as
an extrs-mural burying-ground. II IS
said that fifty thousand bodies were
inferred there; but at length, happily,
the plague died away, and it became
unnecessary any longer to use the
ground for the purpose for which II had
been bought. Apparently much Of the
ground was still unoccupied. Charter
house square is believed to haze
been the ancient burial. ground. and
the bishops successor, Sir Wal.
ter Nanny, determined that the
spot should be devoted TO other
pious uses. Casting about for suits-
Bile foundation, they selected that OF
Carthusian monastery, probably on &C
count Of the rigorous discipline Of the
order and its devotion to solitary con-
temptation. The necessary charter was
obtained and a double convent for
twenty.four monks was founded, the
buildings being completed about 1870.
The bishop died during the progress OF
the work, and one Of the first duties Of
the newly-established monks was the
burial Of their surviving founder, Sir
Walter Nanny, whose bones are be-
lieved still to rest under the choir Of
the old church.
The arrangements Of Carthusian
monastery were adapted to the life OF
solitary prayer and meditation to which
its inmates were devoted. The monks
cells were arranged around the great
cloister of the house. Each cell COM
prised a sleeping-room and orasory, and
was furnished with garden and every
accommodation necessary to enable the
monk to live completely apart from his
brethren. The cooking of the monas-
terry was performed by lay brethren,
who took round to the monks cells the
portion of food allotted to each. Even
the slight intercourse which might arise
in this process was guarded against. In
the wall Of the cloister, by the gate OF
each cell was square opening
known as hutch. This opening COM
municated with a zigzag passage in the
wall. The food was pushed half way
along this passage from without by the
lay brother, and the monk on the other
side could then reach it and draw it in.
Some Of these hutches now bricked up,
but with the outline clearly marked by
a stone coping, are still to be seen IN
the western wall of the great clOister at
Charterhouse. The monks only met
in chapel, where each had his
( allotted seat. and on rare day:
/ in the refectory. chamber proba
/ bly, identical with the smaller hall
used in after years as the dining-roOm
Of the Charterhouse boys. The prior
however, had his separate dwelling
house and hall, where he entertained
strangers and ranged round the little
cloister were the strangers lodgings
where not only were wayfarers and oc.
casional guests received, but piOus lay
men occasionally went into retreat, for
time accepting the discipline and en-
bracing the austere and contemplatiyC
life of the monastery. In the London
Charterhouse the chapel stood on the
south Of the great cloister, and the
prior's quarters and little cloister st the
southwest corner. Still further to the
west was a considerable space Of open
ground, and upon part Of this a new
court adjoining the little clolster wa.
built by Prior HOughton in the time o.
Henry VII. This court, known a,
Washhouse court and apparently in
tended for the lay brethren and servant:
of the monastery, still exists in all es
sentials. and on its outside wall are &c
be seen Prior Houghton's initials. Thi:
was the last addition made TO the mo-
mastery before its dissolution.
The Charterhouse was treated with
great cruelty by Henry VIII. Priol
Houghton was hanged for refusing t
acknowledge the kings supremacy
Other brethren shared bis fate, and
others again were thrown into nOisome
dens at Newgate, where want and fever
did the work OF the executioner. A
few, who accepted the new doctrine, re
ceiyed pensions and then retired Il
Bruges, where they continued to keeE
their vows. The lands Of the Char
terhouse thus passed into secular occu-
patton, and the buildings underwent
great alterations. Sir Edward North
the first occupant, pulled down the
monks cells, and formed gardens or
their sites. He demolished the chap
ter-house and built private rooms, anC
be converted the chapel into dining
room. His son, Lord North, sold TO the
Duke of Norfolk in 1865, and in hi
hands the present Howard house assumed
shape. The noble hall in which the
poor brethren still dine is the Duke o.
Norfolk's dining-hall; the apartment
over the boys dining-hall, in. which the
examinations for the foundation are still
held, disfgured by subsequent changes
but still very fine room, is the Duke
Of Norfolk's presence chamber; and
the staircase by which the room is ap'
preached Of the finest remaining
pieces Of work-was doubtless design
ed and completed under the directions
of the Duke. The rest of Howard
house stands upon the walls Of the lit
tie cloister, and thus. by its quadran.
gle, preserves the outline Of the old
monastery.
The possessors Of Howard house fell
on evil times. The Duke Of Norfolk
went from the Charterhouse TO the
tower, and thence 70 the block. The
Dukes eldest son, the Earl Of Arundel,
was attainted in 1890, and Howard
house TINS came To the crown IL Wzs