Museum Of The Order Of St. John

Walking home from an event late one afternoon, I passed by the Museum. Remembering that I keep intending to pop in and check it out, I stopped by and walked through the exhibit (end to end it took me about 25 minutes). There were a number of historical events that I knew about, but the museum pieced several of them together in a timeline. I even had an «ah ha!» moment at the end (which I hesitate to include here because, well, why shouldn’t you have an ah ha moment too?!), which was lovely.
Overall, the museum was worth stopping in and as a Clerkenweller (that’s a thing, right?) it was particularly interesting to understand the events and lives that transpired here. It’s free, of course, but you can make a donation if you appreciate the experience. I hear the guided tours (£5 recommended donation) are also worth a try.

This museum explores the legacy of the Order of St John (The Hospitallers), a religious order founded in Jerusalem by 1099. The members were devoted to nursing and fighting, first as defenders of the land captured in the Holy Lands by the Crusades and later as rulers of a series of island states in the Mediterranean — including Malta. Malta has a wonderful museum too.
In the Middle Ages, warrior monks set out from here to fight for the faith and tend the sick in their hospital in Jerusalem.
The Museum and Library of the Order of St John is housed in the 16^th century gatehouse, St John’s Gate, that formed the southern entrance to a Priory covering 10-​acres of Clerkenwell in medieval times.
Explore the ancient Priory of the Knights Hospitallers with its Tudor Gate House, 16^th century Church and 12^th century Crypt.
In the Gatehouse, are collections of silver, ceramics, furniture and paintings from the Knights’ time in Malta. Treasures in the museum include illuminated manuscripts, armour and a cannon given to the Knights by Henry VIII.
A collection of 16^th — 18^th century majolica from the pharmacy in Malta; the beautifully illuminated charter, depicting Philip II and Mary Tudor, restoring the Order in 1557 and the 15^th century Flemish altarpiece from the Priory Church.
Another gallery has displays on the Priory site showing surviving fragments of the medieval stone work, wood carving, tiles and stained glass.
St John’s Gate and the Priory of Clerkenwell: this exhibition looks at the history of St John’s Gate, built as the entrance to the Hospitallers’ English headquarters and its changing uses since the Reformation.
Time to Care is the story of St John Ambulance.
Farringdon is the nearest station, 5 minutes walk from the museum.