Oh, and the Queen is your neighbour too.
It’s the reality for the residents of the Charterhouse, a former plague burial site turned medieval monastery and mansion hidden away in the centre of London.
Founded in the early 17th century as a school, hospital and home for 80 poor gentlemen by wealthy philanthropist Thomas Sutton, over 40 financially strapped retirees including teachers, clergymen, writers, musicians and artists now occupy its historic buildings.
Known as ‘Brothers’ – a nod to the house’s monastic past – each resident has a mentor from the Charterhouse’s governors who include the Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The community is funded by fees from the Charterhouse’s school in Surrey – an eye-watering £37,000 (AU$62,000) annually for each boarding student – and private donors.
Home sweet home?
So how can you apply?
While you don’t need a religious affiliation to apply, residents do need to be over 60, single, be in good enough health to live independently.
Applicants also have to be willing to contribute to the house’s sense of community. While the accommodation is private, the residents eat together in the Great Hall and take part in social activities through the year.
Many of the Brothers also volunteer as tour guides, arranging entertainment and events, editing the building’s bi-annual magazine and help with events.
Living the dream
In return, the residents can live out the rest of their days inside its walls. The charity offers a daily help service to assist people to live independently, and also has its own 11-bed nursing home on site which provides both respite and long-term care.
There is one change coming for the Brothers with the house soon to be open to women too. So how do the current Brothers feel about this?
“Some were happy, some not so happy,” resident Stephen McGhee said here. “Whatever happens, it will have to be done very sensitively… and the newcomer will have to adapt to 42 men!”
