Located to the north of Smithfield Market, the Charterhouse neighbourhood is rich in both culture and history. From the Architectural History Practice, which specialises in advice on listed buildings and historic places, to the legendary nightclub Fabric, this area draws in visitors and residents from all walks of life. Composed of a mixture of business, housing, bars, and restaurants, this buzzing central hub manages to maintain a local feel and is well-loved by residents both new and old. With the opening of the Elizabeth line at Farringdon station early in 2022, this neighbourhood continues to thrive and grow.

The history of this neighbourhood can be told through the story of a single building, the Charterhouse. Originally built in the middle of the 14th century as a Carthusian monastery and burial ground for victims of the Black Death, the structure still stands today. At the beginning of the Tudor period, when monasteries were dissolved, the Charterhouse became a mansion for wealthy noblemen. Thomas Sutton purchased the Charterhouse in 1611 to serve, first as a refuge for injured soldiers, and later as a school for boys. The Charterhouse has appeared in the writing of Daniel Defoe, Charles Dickens, and William Makepeace Thackeray. Today, it is a public museum that is free to explore.

John Wesley – the man responsible for founding the Methodist religion – also attended school here. Having been pulled from the roof of a burning building at the age of five, Wesley later described the incident by employing the biblical phrase “a brand plucked out of the fire.” This miracle of childhood became a central component of Wesley’s legend, galvanising followers of his religious work for centuries to come.

The legendary nightclub in the area, ‘Fabric,’ was closed down in 2016 – only to re-open five months later amidst an enormous amount of community support. Advocates for the nightclub cited its importance as a cultural and historical hub, responsible for bringing together diverse groups of people for generations.

The Charterhouse area is not ideal for nature-lovers, nor for those who enjoy taking a break in their local park – it does not contain any green space within it aside from the relatively small Charterhouse Square. Local business owners, however, do not perceive this to be a particular issue; several people have noted in conversation that green spaces such as Temple Gardens, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and Russell Square are “only a short walk or bus journey away.”

The newly opened Elizabeth line is expected to result in a sevenfold increase in the number of commuters passing through Farringdon station every day, boosting local business and catalysing new property development in the area. Residents fear that this change will make the already-steep housing prices in the area astronomically expensive, ushering in another wave of gentrification. Local groups are campaigning fervently to preserve the character of the area, yet developers often end up getting their way. One example is the new development by Postmark on the site of the old Royal Mail sorting office just to the West of this neighbourhood. The scheme is largely residential, providing luxury accommodation, with prices starting at £980,000 for a one bedroom flat. Another example is the JJ Mack Building at 33 Charterhouse Street, which is set for completion in late 2022. Sitting just 100m from the exit of Farringdon station, this development will provide an additional 205,369 sq ft of office space.