Museum of the Order of St John facts for kids
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St John's Gate, home of the museum
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| Location | St John's Gate, Clerkenwell London, EC1 United Kingdom |
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| Public transit access |   Farringdon |
The Museum of the Order of St John in Clerkenwell, London, tells an amazing story. It's all about the Venerable Order of Saint John. This group started as Knights Hospitaller in Jerusalem during the Crusades. They were knights who helped people.
Today, the Order still helps others. They provide first aid and care through St John Ambulance. They also run an eye hospital in Jerusalem. The museum is part of the London Museums of Health & Medicine.
Contents
Discover the Historic Building
The museum is located in St John's Gate, Clerkenwell. This is a cool 16th-century gatehouse in London, England. It used to be the entrance to the Priory of Clerkenwell. This priory was built way back in the 11th century. It was the main place for the Order of St John in England.
From here, the Hospitaller Knights traveled to the Holy Land. Later, they went to Cyprus, Rhodes, and Malta. They worked in hospitals, helping sick pilgrims. They also fought to protect Christian interests in the Holy Land and the Mediterranean Sea.
Explore Ancient Parts of the Priory
When you visit, you can take a tour of the oldest parts of the Medieval Priory. You'll see the Norman crypt, which is like an underground room. You can also visit the 16th-century church above it.
After that, you return to the Gate House. This building has been used for many things over the years. Famous people like William Shakespeare, Samuel Johnson, William Hogarth, and Charles Dickens are part of its history. The Order bought the Gate back in the late 1800s. Now, it's beautifully decorated with coats of arms, stained glass, and carvings. These designs were created by John Oldrid Scott. Inside, you can see lovely furniture and paintings.
The museum inside the Gate House shares the history of the Order of St John. It also tells the story of St John Ambulance. The museum was updated in November 2010. This project helped show off the Order's important collection even better.
Amazing Collections of the Order of St John
The museum has many different items from the Order of St John's history. The Order started in the 11th century and worked in most European countries.
Artifacts from History
You can see archaeological finds and pieces of old buildings. There are also items about daily life from the Priory site. The collection includes old seals and coins, even some from the Crusades. You'll find arms and armour, mostly European plate armour. There's also an example of Turkish Ottoman mail.
The museum also has old drug jars, mortars, and weights. These were used in the Hospitallers' pharmacy in Malta. There are beautiful decorative items too. These include medals, ceramics, glass, silver, furniture, and jewelry. You can also see special clothing like ecclesiastical vestments. These items show the style of the European nobles who joined the Order.
Art and Images
The painting collection features religious art. Many paintings show St John the Baptist, who is the Order's patron saint. There are also portraits of Grand Masters, Knights, and clergy. You can see paintings of sea battles and views of Malta.
The museum also has many prints and drawings. These include pictures of the Knights and maps of their island homes. You can also see prints of the English Priory and the Clerkenwell area. The collection also includes works by the artist Alix Jennings from the Second World War.
St John Ambulance: Helping People for Years
St John Ambulance has a history of over 125 years. It has helped people in more than 40 countries worldwide. The British Order of St John started it. They were inspired by the medical traditions of the Hospitallers. A special exhibition tells their story.
Tools and Uniforms
The equipment ranges from early ambulance transport to a tiny Victorian nurse's first aid kit. There are training books in many languages. First aid information comes in different forms, like cigarette cards and pop-up books. Some information is even printed on bandages!
You can see different uniforms, including ceremonial clothes. There's a 1922 cadet uniform and an A.R.P. gas suit. Posters and advertisements also show uniforms from many time periods. The collection of medals, trophies, and certificates shows what members achieved. One certificate was even made by a forger in a prisoner-of-war camp! Banners and textiles celebrate special St John events.
Personal Stories and Memories
Personal items tell what it was like to be part of the movement. Nurse Nesbit's cartoons show the funnier moments of working in a First World War hospital. Lyn Brown's album shares her feelings as one of the first people to enter the newly freed Belsen camp in 1945.
The film archive shows St John Ambulance's connection with movies. A huge collection of photos gives a look into people's lives and social changes. It also shows how the organization changed over time. Oral histories, especially from the Second World War, cover many topics. These include first aid during the 1930s depression. They also tell about setting up a division in Zanzibar in the 1950s. And they share the work of a welfare officer in the Gulf War of 1991.
Visiting the Museum
Opening Hours
- Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm
- Tours - Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 11 am and 2:30 pm
Getting There
- by train - Farringdon station (Tube and Thameslink trains) is the closest station. It's a 5-minute walk from the museum.
- by car - You can find Pay and Display parking spaces in St John's Square. Parking rules apply Mon-Fri 9 am - 6:30 pm, Sat 9 am - 1:30 pm.
- by bus - Buses stop on Farringdon Road (route 63) and Clerkenwell Road (routes 55, 243).
See also
- Healthcare in London
- St John's Gate, Clerkenwell
- Service Medal of the Order of St John
- Insignia of the Venerable Order of St John
- Museum of the Order of St John in Ontario
