Curatorial Internship with The Charterhouse, London

Heritage Partnerships at Oxford University supports research into histories of wide-ranging heritage sites and collections in England, Wales and Northern Ireland through a range of academic collaborations and knowledge exchange activities.

This round of micro-internships centres on the Charterhouse, a former Carthusian monastery and living heritage site in London. Since the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century the site has served as a private mansion, a boys’ school and an almshouse, which it remains to this day.  Working alongside the partnership team and the Charterhouse, this micro-internship will provide insights into the heritage sector and public history initiatives through the lens of archival research into one of four thematic areas related to the history and life of the Charterhouse.

What you will do:

Working remotely as part of a small team, you will undertake desk-based and/or in-person research using a range of online archives and resources to support one of the five thematic strands designed to illuminate the history and heritage of the Charterhouse. The five strands for the micro-internships are:

• Portuguese Connections 

The Portuguese Ambassador leased the Charterhouse from 1573 for a number of years. For this project, you will explore the details of this arrangement, how long it was for, and its significance with regard to international diplomacy. 

• Mary Taylor and the Royal Academy 

Building on the work of previous interns to chart the life of the 19th-century organist, Mary Taylor, and her relationship to the Charterhouse, you will explore Taylor's connections to the Royal Academy of Music. Please note that this internship may include an in-person visit to the Royal Academy Library and Archives in London (travel and subsistence costs covered by the host). Please state your willingness to travel to the archives in your application.  

• The Charterhouse Physicians 

References to physicians in connection to the Charterhouse date back to 1660, while the Physician's House on the site (now occupied by the Master) dates back to 1716. For this internship project, you will identify and compile references relating physicians and their activities at the Charterhouse over time. 

• References to the restoration of the Charterhouse in the Royal Institute of British Architects archive

In 1941, the Charterhouse site in Clerkenwell sustained extensive damage from incendiary bombing. The ruins of the buildings were restored to the designs of the architectural practice of Seely and Paget, whose archive is now held by the RIBA. Little is known of the contents of their archive, and a member of the Charterhouse team is tasked with exploring their contents.  This internship will focus on supporting these investigations in order to present a summary of findings.  On-site work at the RIBA archives in central London with a member of the Charterhouse team will be necessary. Travel and daily subsistence costs will be covered by the host. Please state your availability to work on-site in London in your application materials.

• Charterhouse Connections: To what extent was Coventry Charterhouse founded by the monks at London Charterhouse and what was the ongoing relationship between the two houses in the 15th century?

The intern working on this project will explore the relationship between the London Charterhouse and the Charterhouse in Coventry. Research may include compiling a biography of Robert Palmer, a monk from the London Charterhouse who moved to Coventry to establish a Carthusian monastery there, and an exploration of the ongoing relationship between the two houses and their inhabitants. 

Working with primary and secondary sources to interrogate one of the above themes, you will submit your research findings as a written report which will be shared with the Oxford Heritage Partnerships Team and the senior team at the Charterhouse. Interns will have the opportunity to meet regularly with the supervisory team, Charterhouse staff, and fellow interns via Microsoft Teams video calls.

*Please state your preferred internship project in your application materials* 

Applicant Profile

Candidates will be considered from any Humanities subject area, from second-year undergraduate level and above. Candidates must demonstrate good written communication skills, experience of using archival research material, an ability to work both independently and as part of a team, and a keen interest in working in – or with – the heritage sector. This opportunity is being offered as a micro-internship and Crankstart internship (please contact the Internship Office for further details).

Depending on the project, the internships will either be carried out remotely or in-person in the relevant archives. There will be a group site visit to the Charterhouse in London on Monday 18th March 2024 where lunch will be provided. In instances where in-person travel is required, travel and reasonable subsistence costs will be reimbursed by the host.

Find out more and apply here