The Search for Perth Charterhouse

Friday 18th and Saturday 19th September.

Established in 1429 by King James I of Scotland as his royal mausoleum and the Kingdom of Scotland’s only monastic house of the Carthusian Order from La Grande Chartreuse in the French Alps. The priory church at the heart of the Perth Charterhouse is said to have been the most beautiful and lavishly decorated in the Kingdom with no expense spared in its construction. Attacked and suppressed 130 years later, the Charterhouse is Perth’s lost medieval marvel.

The Perth Charterhouse project concerns itself with reviving a lost heritage narrative from the city’s rich medieval story and bringing it to the attention of Perth’s resident and visiting populations. This is a research project with community at its heart, it seeks to bring together neighbours and residents from an increasingly disconnected area of the city through rediscovering and exploring a shared heritage. Future plans for the project include creatively reimagining this heritage inspired by the physical and literary remains. 

The Charterhouse is the only one of Perth’s four monasteries that has not been relocated since it was destroyed. Come along on Doors Open Days to witness the first archaeological excavation that is attempting to find it. Join a tour to hear the story of James I and his Charterhouse; Come along to see what has been found during a week of digging; Drop-in and have a go at archaeological skills activities. 

10am and 2pm: Walking tours of the Charterhouse precinct led by members of the project team, departing from the Carthusian Monastery Monument (corner of King and Hospital Streets). 

11am and 3pm: Dig talks at the Carthusian Monastery Monument with site orientation and discoveries from the archaeological excavations. 

The Carthusian Monastery Monument © Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 

Artistic impression of the Perth Charterhouse (on display in Perth Museum) © Simon Edwards