Charterhouse Ding Dong

Bravo to Roger who organised a great day out in central London.

London is the city of contrasts.  St Giles Cripplegate Without, a medieval church with 12 bells, surrounded by Barbican brutalism just beyond the remains of the Roman walls of the city.

We where there to hear the semi-final of the National 12-bell Striking Contest. This was some of the best ringing in the world.  So of course you want to know who won?

The results

Test Piece: 250 Stedman Cinques

Judges: David J Dearnley (Chief), Thomas J Hinks

	Team	Rang	Speed	Mark
1	Ancient Society of College Youths	1st	3h31	80%
2	Cambridge	5th	3h31	77%
3	Bristol	2nd	3h26	70%
4	High Wycombe	6th	3h29	65%
5	Southwark	7th	3h24	64%
6	ULSCR	4th	3h20	60%
7	Liverpool	3rd	3h27	57%

St Giles is next to City of London Girls School.

Mum, Helen, Roger and Uncle Richard,
attentively listening to the 12 bell peal.

Aunt Lis, 'sitting down'.

Right, that's it- where's lunch?

The Old Red Cow, overlooking Cross-Rails
massive hole in the ground.  Helen at the
Head of the table.

Roger at the Head of the table (a Pushmepulewe).

The Gateway to The Charterhouse, or Sutton Hospital.

Helen Button

Briefing from our guide- a Charterhouse Brother.

Charterhouse began as a Chantry Chapel offering prayers for the dead of the Black death.  Beyond city walls were the place to dump things, including dead bodies.  Interestingly, Cross-Rail report they have tunneled though many graves from this period in recent months.

Charterhouse became available after the Carthusian Monks refused to let a misogynist, meglomanic become head of their church, and consequently lost their heads, after a great deal of torture.  Armament magnate, Thomas Sutton snapped up the property at a snip.  He then converted into a charitable foundation.  It's completely male dominated; old gentlemen, and a boys school.  Alumni include, John Wesley, Baden Powell, and Thackeray.

The 'Great Hall'.

Us touring 

The Gallery where Elizabeth I is said to have received visitors
 before her coronation.

I liked the 'geological discontinuity between stone and brick.

A view of the chapel.  

And some other building I enjoyed coming across on my route to Charterhouse.

This house is covered in Cows' Heads.
Smithfields is in the next street. Any connection?

Charles Rowan House.  Build like a powerstation?
http://charlesrowanhousetra.typepad.com/tra/2012/07/history-of-charles-rowan-house.html 

St James, Clerkenwell.  Where Bibs and Andy were married.
Also near to Skinner Street where Shelley eloped to the continent
with two women, one his 1/2 sister!