Issue No. 25

After the French Revolution when the state
seized church property, the monks left and
the building fell into disrepair. It was sold to
a private buyer who dismantled it and sold
off the material which was used in local
buildings. The Charterhouse was bought
back by the state in 1870 and restored by
renowned architect Clovis Normand, born in
nearby Hesdin and a pupil of Violet le Duc,
recreator of Notre Dame Paris. Normand
also designed St Hugh’s Charterhouse in
Parkminster, England which is twinned with
La Chartreuse de Neuville.
Life in La Chartreuse
The two communities of La Chartreuse de
Neuville consisted of 24 Fathers and 24
Brothers who grew vegetables and fruit and
supported the Fathers. They were all
vegetarian.
Each father lived alone in an apartment
called a cell, though it was quite substantial.
They lived in silence and without company.
Their food was passed through a guichet, a
cupboard in the wall with two doors. A
Brother would open the outer door, put the
food in the cupboard and close the door.
Then the Father would open his door to take
the food. It was the same with any supplies
including firewood. The Fathers were
forbidden from doing work other than
spiritual, except for cutting firewood. Each
apartment was exactly the same, on two
levels and with a small enclosed garden
where they could grow flowers if they
wished.
The ground floor level was considered the
material world – connected to the world of
man. There was a short corridor known as a
promenoir where a Father could walk for
exercise. Upstairs they entered the Ava
Maria room and left behind the world of the
non-spiritual. Here they would pray for hours
on end. They also had a wood cutting area, a
bedroom and prayer area, a table and chair.