Thursday 2 May 2024 at 7.30pm

Excavations at St. Anne’s Charterhouse in Coventry

Andy McLeish, University of Leicester Archaeological Services, Site Director of the excavations

The priory of St Anne (also known as the Coventry Charterhouse) is a rare example of a Carthusian monastery, one of only nine ever established in England. Founded in 1381, construction works began with King Richard II and his queen, Anne of Bohemia, laying the foundation stone for the church in 1385 and the monastery was largely completed by 1410.

Dissolved during the reign of King Henry VIII, the site ceased to function as a monastery in 1539, and entered private ownership in 1542. In 1940, its last private owner, Colonel William Wyley, bequeathed Charterhouse to the city of Coventry.

Since 2019, ULAS has partnered with the Historic Coventry Trust in a project to revitalise the former Carthusian monastery and reopen it to the public, with excavations at the site forming part of a wider project, made possible with funding from the Heritage Fund, which has renovated the historic buildings, restored the walled grounds and created a visitor centre within a wider heritage park, all linked to the city via walk and cycle paths.

Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, 53 New Walk, Leicester, LE1 7EA

Entry to the talk is free of charge.