Perth Charterhouse

Perth Charterhouse, also known by its Latin name Domus Vallis Virtutis ("House of the Valley of Virtue"), was the only Carthusian monastery ever established in the Kingdom of Scotland. Its establishment in Perth was a significant event, marking one of the last non-mendicant houses founded in the kingdom. The traditional founding date is 1429, though authorization for the foundation was granted in 1426. The monastery played a crucial role in the religious landscape of Scotland and served an important function as a royal mausoleum.

Foundation and Royal Patronage

The initiative for founding Perth Charterhouse largely came from King James I of Scotland, who provided significant revenue for its construction. He also influenced others to contribute, with John of Bute overseeing the building work. The priory was intended by James I to be his final resting place, and after his death, payments were made for his tomb and its embellishment. His consort, Joan Beaufort, was also buried there in 1445. The Charterhouse even preserved James I's doublet, marked with the dagger holes from his assassination, which was displayed as a relic.

Monastic Life and Development

Following the Carthusian Order's model, the community was intended to consist of one prior and twelve brothers, symbolizing Christ and his apostles. However, records indicate variations in size; for instance, a document from 1478 shows a community of a prior, fourteen choir-monks, two lay brothers, and one novice. By 1529, the house had returned to its standard size, though by 1558, the number of brothers had decreased to ten. As the sole Carthusian establishment in Scotland, Perth's integration into the international Carthusian provincial system was complex, being part of the province of Picardy, with brief periods under the English province and later the province of Geneva.

Reformation and Dissolution

The monastery faced destruction during the Scottish Reformation. On May 11, 1559, Protestant "reformers" attacked and destroyed the Charterhouse, along with other religious houses in Perth. Some monks fled the country, while a few chose to remain. The house remained in nominal operation, held by commendators, until its formal suppression in 1569, which was fully actualized in 1602. King James VI of Scotland granted the buildings and gardens to the burgh of Perth in 1569. Today, none of the priory buildings survive above ground, and excavations have not definitively identified its exact location. Modern sites, such as King James VI Hospital and Perth bus station, occupy parts of its former grounds, with Pomarium Street recalling the location of the house's orchard.