Witham Charterhouse, Carthusian monastery ruins in Witham Friary, England
Witham Charterhouse is a Carthusian monastery ruin in Somerset, England, situated within what was once the Royal Forest of Selwood. Excavations have revealed rectilinear earthworks, buttressed wall foundations, glazed roof tiles, and patterns from medieval floor construction.
King Henry II founded the monastery in 1178 as penance for the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket. This establishment marked the beginning of the Carthusian order's presence in England.
The parish church at Witham Friary incorporates elements from the medieval lay brothers' chapel. This continuity shows how the site remains connected to its religious past through everyday worship.
The site features visible earthworks and foundations that you can walk around to explore. Stone fragments from the original buildings are built into nearby local structures and can be seen from outside.
This was England's first Carthusian foundation, with Saint Hugh of Avalon taking charge as prior from 1180 onward. This early start gave the site importance as the birthplace of an order that later spread throughout the country.
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