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The Charterhouse

The Charterhouse entranceThe Charterhouse

Grant: Access Audit grant, Capital Costs grant
Location: The Charterhouse
Status: Complete
Amount Awarded: £100,000 (Capital costs)

The Charterhouse is a former Carthusian monastery in London which provides housing and care to support older people in need. It 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

CAE’s Access and Sustainability Advisory Service (ASAS) assisted The Charterhouse to apply for an access audit grant from the City Bridge Trust. Following the application, The Trust awarded funding for an access audit of the building. The Charterhouse commissioned the access audit in June 2012 with a view to opening limited areas of its buildings to paying visitors. The audit made suggestions for possible solutions to identified barriers.

Capital costs work

Tactile map at entrance of the CharterhouseFollowing the access audit, The Charterhouse applied to the City Bridge Trust for a capital costs grant. The grant 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 and found that – as a result of the completed capital works – all public areas of the museum including the main entrance, reception area, learning centre, toilets and cloak room facilities, were 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 has also recorded feedback from visitors which, overall, has been very positive. The improved access to and within the building has also been beneficial to older residents living in the alms houses who 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.