Coventry Charterhouse - National Trust

National Trust have been working on saving Coventry's Charterhouse which has had a varied history over hundreds of years. Although I lived in Coventry for a short while I didn't know about it although Hubby who was born in city did know it was there.

It is not a furnished property, National Trust have focused on the building and how it has changed with various occupants. Built in the late 1300s it was originally a monastery with cloisters and a church, both destroyed in Henry VIIIs reformation. During the reign of Elizabeth I it was home to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester and later John Whittingham who built the walled garden and cultivated a nursery. The house and grounds did fall into decline after beings a children's home, an old aged pensiors house and a training centre.

Inside the house there are many examples of the various occupants and styles of the times. One of the main changes is the addition of a second floor splitting the monastery's original huge dining hall in two and making more rooms on a first and second floor.

On the first floor there remains some amazing wall paintings. They are thought to have survived thanks to subsequent owners covering them with panelling. The black and white painting is from the 1500s and depicts wealth with fruits and plants, it has had additions as it is not all by the same artist, the main figure may be depicting Robert Dudley. 

The coloured painting has been split by the addition of the second floor, this is apparent with it showing only the lower part of people, in particular Jesus's crucification being just his feet on the cross.

Outside there is evidence of the church with one wall remaining and it is hoped some archaeology be done on the site to discover more. There has already been some features of the cloisters found, these have been placed in one of the garden walls. In the far corner a apple store still survived, thought to be an 18th century folly. 

It was a great day exploring a local National Trust property with of course a coffee and scone in the cafe. With extensive parkland it's a great place to visit, a lovely green space in the middle of Coventry, I hope we visit again when the plants and flowers are in bloom.