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A new chapter begins for The Charterhouse and National Trust in Coventry
- Published:
- 10 January 2025
The National Trust and Historic Coventry Trust are excited to announce a new partnership which will see National Trust care for the Grade I listed, 14th century former monastery, re-opening the site to visitors in spring. The Charterhouse is the National Trust’s first site in Coventry and marks the beginning of plans to develop a community hub and offer a calendar of activities for visitors.
The Charterhouse, located in the Heritage Park just outside the city centre, is owned by Historic Coventry Trust, a heritage development trust set up in 2011 to restore historic places in the city. Historic Coventry Trust raised the £11.9m million needed to restore Charterhouse and managed every step of the restoration process.
Historic Coventry Trust is now drawing on the specialist experience of National Trust, to share The Charterhouse story more widely and to create a sustainable future for the historic site. The team also look forward to working with the local community and creating a place where residents can come together and be part of Charterhouse’s present and future.
As well as having a unique place in history, Coventry’s Charterhouse is also home to 15th and 16th century wall paintings, which are said to be some of the finest examples of medieval and renaissance art in England. The outside area includes a beautifully landscaped walled garden, and wider green space with wildlife pond and community orchard, children’s play area and grassland park. The site provides a natural oasis in the heart of Coventry, linking with a wider city Heritage Park, and a unique opportunity to share nationally important heritage with wider audiences.
Ian Harrabin, Chairman of Historic Coventry Trust, said: “The involvement of National Trust opens a new chapter for The Charterhouse with the benefits of their expertise and huge membership attracting a much wider audience. The increase in visitors will not only make the future of this exceptional building secure, but also have a major impact on Coventry’s growing attraction as a visitor destination. We are very excited that this will not be the normal National Trust model of operation but an involved partnership with both Historic Coventry and the community. It is great that National Trust has chosen Coventry as a priority place for its involvement in urban areas."
The new partnership between Historic Coventry Trust and the National Trust has been set out in a lease agreement where the National Trust is responsible for the main Charterhouse building, the 1.7 acre walled garden and an area within the Heritage Park that includes the community orchard and wildlife pond. The National Trust will also manage the car park and commission a local provider to run a cafe at the site.
In addition to managing Charterhouse, the National Trust team will be working with partners to help deliver plans for the wider Heritage Park and green corridor between the park and the city. By working with partners, including the John Muir Trust, the partnership will help enhance the Heritage Park green corridor which connects Charterhouse and wider Coventry.
Coventry’s Charterhouse is supported by a dedicated team of volunteers who help with everything from gardening to visitor tours. Ahead of the property’s reopening in spring, the National Trust is recruiting more volunteers to join the team and will be holding Volunteer Recruitment Days at The Charterhouse on Saturday 18 and Tuesday 21 January between 10am and 3pm. Those interested to find out more are invited to drop-in.
The Charterhouse will reopen in spring ready for a programme of activities for everyone to enjoy - look out for updates as we’ll be sharing more details soon.