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The Charterhouse

The Charterhouse entranceThe Charterhouse

Grant: Access Audit grant, Capital Costs grant
Location: The Charterhouse
Status: Complete
Amount Awarded: Access Audit + £100,000 (Capital costs)
The Charterhouse is a former Carthusian monastery in London which provides housing and care to support elderly people in need, it also shares its story and heritage within a free museum, and hosts tours of some of the buildings and grounds. In January 2017 The Charterhouse opened a free museum and its chapel to members of the public.

Access Audit grant

ASAS assisted The Charterhouse to apply for an access audit grant. As a result of this The City Bridge Trust awarded funding for an access audit of the building. The access audit was conducted in June 2012 prior to works to open limited areas of the Charterhouse buildings to paying visitors. The audit identified the current facilities and made suggestions for possible solutions to barriers identified.

Capital costs work

Tactile map at entrance of the CharterhouseFollowing the access audit, The Charterhouse put in an application for the Capital Costs grant from the City Bridge Trust.
The capital cost funds awarded helped to ensure that the following facilities were provided:

  • improved and level pedestrian links to the main entrance.
  • accessible toilets across 2 floors
  • a new accessible reception area
  • BSL tours
  • a hearing loop
  • improved accessible parking spaces
  • implementation of sensory features such as a tactile map and sensory garden

Outcomes
The Charterhouse lift to upper floorsASAS visited the Charterhouse in March 2019. As a result of the completed works, all public areas of the museum including the main entrance, reception area, learning centre, toilets and cloak room facilities are fully accessible for wheelchair users. In addition to this staff are readily available at reception to provide assistance to those who require it. The Charterhouse record feedback from visitors which overall has been very positive. The improved access has also been beneficial to residents who are living in the arms houses who are elderly and have various access requirements.

The Charterhouse also runs British sign language tours of the buildings and gardens.

For more information and advice on ASAS and how we can help you, email our Access Advisor, Asa Hems, at asas@cae.org.uk or telephone +44 (0)754 6690 040.