An exciting series of events have been lined-up as part of the countdown to the official opening of the £8 million restoration of one of Coventry’s finest medieval buildings.
Charterhouse Reveals has been designed by Historic Coventry Trust to appeal to all members of the community ahead of the launch of the new visitor attraction.
Charterhouse, which is one of Coventry’s oldest buildings, will be the focal point of the new 70-acre Charterhouse Heritage Park along the banks of the River Sherbourne.
The Grade I listed building has been painstakingly transformed with the major restoration of wall paintings and the ancient walls that protected Coventry’s Carthusian Monastery, the creation of interactive displays charting the site’s long history since its founding by King Richard II in 1385, as well as the restoration of the walled garden.
Sarah Allen, Education and Engagement Manager at Historic Coventry Trust, said the Spring and Summer programme of Charterhouse Reveals will be a fantastic opportunity to take an early peek at this long-awaited project.
She said: “The programme has been designed to showcase every aspect of Charterhouse and we hope members of the local community and schools as well as visitors arriving in the city towards the end of its time as UK City of Culture will come along.
“We will be showcasing the significance of Charterhouse as a future heritage attraction for Coventry by giving visitors the opportunity to delve deep into its history and find out more about the significance of the wall paintings. As work continues to complete the finishing touches to the restoration work, the site is still a construction area so there is currently no lift access.
“Charterhouse Reveals also highlights the gardens and the wider Heritage Park – there are so many aspects to this wonderful restoration project.
“We want everyone to enjoy Coventry’s heritage and we hope this initial programme of events will be a great way for residents and visitors to find out more about Charterhouse’s rich history and connect with nature.”
Charterhouse Reveals has been funded through Coventry City of Culture Trust, National Heritage Lottery Fund, and National Trust.
Charterhouse Reveals includes:
Charterhouse Kitchen Garden Project in partnership with Food Union
Every Friday until end of October 2022
10am–1pm
Charterhouse Kitchen Garden
Six lead Kitchen Garden volunteers meet weekly to plan, plant and nurture the Kitchen Garden spaces in Charterhouse. Led by growers from Food Union there will be a focus on learning to sow heritage seeds, plant and grow a wide range of fruit and vegetables that connect with the history of Charterhouse as a producing garden. The group will also connect with the Historic Coventry Trust research team who are unearthing stories and garden logs from the John Whittingham journal held in Coventry archives. The Kitchen Garden volunteers will create their own daily logs which will form a new collective journal curated and produced by local artist Rosie Bolton.
Charterhouse Reveals – Crucifixion wall painting
Sunday, April 24
10am–4pm
Charterhouse
- Guided tour of the restoration of the crucifixion wall painting for the first time since its restoration by heritage specialists Perry Lithgow
- Heritage craft presentation and recreation demonstration led by Saskia Huning
- Refreshments available - tea and cake
Ticketing: Timed and ticketed entry in two-hour slots – free of charge between 10am-4pm by booking online at https://www.historiccoventrytrust.org.uk/whats-on/charterhouse-reveals-crucifixion-wall-painting/
Charterhouse Reveals: Education showcase
Thursday, May 5
Anglican Chapel and Charterhouse
4pm–7pm
Part of Coventry Opens
In partnership with Coventry City of Culture Trust and Cultural Educational Partnership, Historic Coventry Trust invites teachers from schools across Coventry to view the Anglican Chapel as a new learning space for the city and have a walking tour of Charterhouse to understand its full potential for future school visits. There will be presentations on City of Culture legacy plans, successful case studies of working with schools and three short history films will be screened which were part of the Horrible Histories series commissioned by City of Culture. The Queen Margaret of Anjou sketch was filmed at Charterhouse.
The Shape of Sound
Anglican Chapel
Saturday, May 7–Sunday, May 8
11am–4pm
With live performances on Saturday only at 1pm, 3pm and 7pm
Part of Coventry Opens
By collaborators Karen Wood, Lilly Hayward-Smith, Louisa Petts (C-DaRE), Petra Johnson and Vip Artpradid
Explore and interact with this site-specific installation that examines how the inside of the ear works and how movement affects sounds. Drawing from weaving, one of the industries that Coventry is most famous for, dance artists interpret this process in the live performances using a hanging warp of silk threads. This is research and development towards a site-specific installation for Charterhouse later in the year which connects with the idea of living in a silent Carthusian order. For more info see https://www.historiccoventrytrust.org.uk/whats-on/
Charterhouse Reveals: Elizabethan wall painting
Part of Coventry Open
Sunday, May 8
10am-4pm
- Guided tours of the Elizabethan wall painting for the first time since restoration.
- An ‘in conversation’: How will the painting be interpreted and how can we make it relevant to young artists today?
- Refreshments available – tea and cake
Ticketing: Timed and ticketed entry in two-hour slots – free of charge – between 10am–4pm by booking online at https://www.historiccoventrytrust.org.uk/whats-on/charterhouse-reveals-elizabethan-wall-painting/
Charterhouse Reveals: Heritage Pathways – Inspiring the next generation
Friday 10 May - Date TBC – depending on construction schedule
9.30am–12.30pm
In partnership with heritage construction specialists Splitlath, Historic Coventry Trust will host a hard hat tour of Charterhouse exploring heritage trades. A group of college students will enjoy a construction hard hat tour and lunch with the construction team who will reveal a ‘day in their life’ and what Charterhouse has revealed to them.
Charterhouse Reveals – Youth Engagement programme
Secret Garden Silent Disco
Part of the Wildlife Gathering
Saturday, May 21
6pm–10.30pm
Charterhouse Garden
Youth groups part of the Green Futures City of Culture programme will come together to share food and dance the night away together, celebrating achievements so far and planning for the future.
By invitation
Charterhouse Heritage Park Reveals
Part of the Wildlife Gathering
Sunday, May 22
11am–4pm (free)
Charterhouse Heritage Park
Charterhouse Gardens
- On the hour walking tours on the past, present and future of Charterhouse Garden
- Picnic baskets by tuttoAPPOSTO
- Live folk musicians, Rosso Music
Volunteer area:
- The volunteer washing line, excerpts from John Whittingham’s diary alongside reflections from Charterhouse volunteers in their first year of planting the Kitchen Garden in partnership with Food Union
- Paper making workshop by local artist Rosie Bolton
- Nature team in action volunteering and volunteer recruitment touch point
Apple Store:
- Slow Stich and natural dying workshop led by local artist Julia O’Connell
Community Orchard:
- Outdoor Theatre performance - Ear Trumpet by Gobbledegook Theatre
Charterhouse Fields
Bring Your Own wildflower picnic:
- Make a seed bomb with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
- Decide where to plant more Blossom Trees with Charterhouse Residents Association and National Trust. Timed walking tours of the community orchard and wider Heritage Park
- Make a nature crown, wand or wings
- Live music and giant bubbles
Children’s Playground:
- Roaming outdoor theatre performance - Bee Cart by Piff Paff
Access is currently limited in the garden with uneven surfaces. Accessible toilets are available.
This event is drop in and free of charge. Visitors will be welcome on a garden tour if there is space however garden tours are limited. If you would like to guarantee entry at a particular time you can pre-order a ticket.
More info: https://www.historiccoventrytrust.org.uk/whats-on/heritage-park-reveals-part-of-wildlife-gathering/
Charterhouse Heritage Park Education programme
Friday May, 20
9.30am–2.30pm
Charterhouse Garden
Year 7 students at Blue Coat School enjoy a test visit to Charterhouse to learn about the life of Carthusian monks and plant the new educational raised beds with herbs, fruits and vegetables.
Caption: Careful conservation of the Elizabethan wall painting at Charterhouse, Coventry, by conservator from the Perry Lithgow Partnership