After building work had been carried out, Charterhouse opened its doors in 1614. Eighty elderly men were admitted, to be called pensioners, or brothers. Sutton's aim was to allow men who had lived active and useful lives in conditions of prosperity and comfort and who had fallen on hard times through no fault of their own to finish their days in the kind of circumstances to which they had become accustomed.

 

The forty scholars were to be

 

They were to be between 10 and 15 years old, and exhibitions were provided at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, those not wishing further education taking apprenticeships. The scholars, who became known as "Gownboys" were supplemented by so-called "town-boys" - commoners accepted from outside the Foundation who applied to go to Charterhouse as its reputation grew.