This surprisingly interesting museum tells the story of the Order of Knights of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, an ancient religious military order that cared for pilgrims in Jerusalem during the Crusades in the 11th century, made a major historical impact on many parts of the Mediterranean (particularly Cyprus, Rhodes and Malta) and were instrumental in the formation of the St John Ambulance.
What to see at the Museum of the Order of St John
The museum is housed inside St John’s Gate, a 16th-century gatehouse that previously formed the entrance to the Priory of Clerkenwell.
It has displays chronicling the rich history of the order, which dates back to the 11th century. Artefacts on display include items from the Crusades, religious art and objects from the Hospitallers’ pharmacy in Malta.
There are also displays depicting the work of the Order of St John in modern times including St John Ambulance and the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.
The exhibits about St John Ambulance are particularly interesting and show its work in over 40 countries and the organisation’s work in both the First and Second World Wars. Artefacts on display include uniforms and first aid kits.
Visiting the Museum of the Order of St John
The Museum of the Order of St John is located in Clerkenwell, just a short walk north of Smithfield Market. It is only a five-minute walk to Farringdon tube station and a 10-minute walk to Barbican tube station.
Entry to the museum is free.
There are 80-minute guided tours (Jan–Jul Tue, Fri, Sat 11am & 2.30pm; Aug–Sep Tue, Fri, Sat 11am & 2.30pm, Sun 2pm; Oct–Dec Tue, Fri, Sat 11am & 2.30pm) that include museum exhibits and historic parts of the building. Tours are free, although there is a suggested £5 donation.
The main museum galleries are wheelchair accessible, but the historic rooms upstairs are not. The guided tours take you to parts of the museum that are not accessible by wheelchair.
Although it is a small museum, you can easily spend over an hour in here.
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