St John's Gate, London: Clerkenwell's Monastic Past
St John's Gate in London is one of the few tangible remains from Clerkenwell's monastic past.
Built in 1504, it's incredibly well preserved and a great example of London's history.
Still standing strong today, it’s now being used as a museum featuring a wonderful collections of armour and paintings.
St John's Gate is the former gatehouse for the Clerkenwell priory of the Knights of Saint John - the Knights Hospitallers.
The gateway was built by Prior Thomas Docwra to replace a 12th-century gate damaged during Wat Tyler's Peasant's Revolt of 1381.
The iconic substructure is built from brick, while the north and south facades are of stone.
After centuries of decay and much rebuilding, however, very little of the stone facing is original.
The structure was heavily restored in the 19th century, and the gate we see today is in large part a Victorian recreation.
Clerkenwell priory of the Knights of Saint John was established in the 1140s in Clerkenwell as the English headquarters of the Order.
The Order was dissolved by King Henry VIII as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries when its lands and wealth were seized by the Crown.
The Order was re-established for a brief period by that king's Roman Catholic daughter, Queen Mary, who granted it a Royal Charter.
However, when her Protestant half-sister Queen Elizabeth I succeeded her, the Order in England was dissolved once again.
The Order was re-established in England during the Victorian era.
The building has many historical associations, most notably as the original printing-house for Edward Cave’s pioneering monthly, The Gentleman’s Magazine.
From 1701 to 1709, it was the childhood home of the painter William Hogarth.
For many years, it was even used as a tavern.
In 1831, John Frost established a medical hospital (St John's Hospital) in the building, the original mediaeval usage of that word signifying a guest-house.
The Gate was acquired in the 1870s by the revived Order of St John and was gradually converted to serve as headquarters of both the Order and its subsidiary, the St John Ambulance Brigade.
Today, it’s now a lovely museum featuring a wonderful collections of armour, illuminated manuscripts, paintings, ceramics, silver, and a cannon given by Henry VIII.
The Order also maintains links to the Priory Church opposite, with a 12th-century crypt and cloister garden planted with herbs used for medical purposes in the medieval period.
Someone who recently visited the gate, now a museum, said: “I took a tour which was great, and separately visited the exhibits.
”There was also a free illustrated talk, with biscuits & cookie, check the website.
”The tour included the 12th Century Norman crypt which is rare for London, and the Gatehouse upstairs.”
Another person added: “Joined a free tour (donations appreciated) through the remaining areas of St. John's Gate. Thought you knew about St. John Ambulance?
”This is the story of how it evolved from monks, crusaders, Knights of Hospitalers, to present day first aid teachers and providers. Great history here.”
The Museum galleries are through the shop on the ground floor of St John’s Gate.
The galleries and shop are open Wednesday – Saturday, 9:30am – 5pm.
Entry is free and pre-booking is not required.
The church and crypt and the historic rooms upstairs at St John’s Gate can only be visited on guided tours.
Visits to the Museum galleries, garden and shop are free of charge to all. However, donations are always welcomed.
A stone plaque is on the building says:
“St John's Gate. This building was the main entrance to the Grand Priory of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.
”The original gatehouse was erected about the year 1148 & was burnt down by War Tyler in 1381.
”It was restored by Prior John Redington & was finally rebuilt in its present form by Prior Thomas Docwra in 1504.
”The Grand Priory buildings were appropriated by the crown in 1559. The order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem resumed possession of this gatehouse in 1873.”
If you’d like to visit, the address is: 26 St John's Ln, London EC1M 4BU.
It’s an often overlook gem, but a lovely place to visits for your next visit to central London!
History of Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell is Islington’s oldest residential and business district.
The area is named after the Clerks’ Well, a 12th-century water source that adjoined St Mary’s Nunnery (c1140), a religious order once located off Clerkenwell Green.
Due to fresh air, a plentiful supply of fresh water, open fields and its proximity to the City, Clerkenwell was a favoured place for the building of monasteries and other institutions.
These included the Priory of the Order of St John (1143), its Norman crypt and Tudor gatehouse can be visited today, and Charterhouse Monastery (1370) and (later) School.
As a parish until 1900, Clerkenwell stretched from Smithfield in the south to Chapel Market in the north; much of what may be considered Islington, such as the Angel Hotel and Inn, Pentonville Road and the market fell within Clerkenwell’s borders.
Running vertically through the district is St John Street, once the main droving route from Islington and the north to the live meat market at Smithfield.
‘Smoothfield’s’ origins date back to the 10th Century and only closed for livestock trading in the mid-1800s.
The area was also home to a number of prisons.
Amongst these were Clerkenwell Bridewell (1615), Coldbath Fields Prison (1794) and the House of Detention (rebuilt 1845).
Today, Clerkenwell isis dotted with smart apartment blocks in converted warehouses.
It’s home to cutting-edge restaurants and cosy gastropubs, plus historic pubs, sleek bars, and nightclubs.
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