Clerkenwell Priory

Names

  • St. John's Priory
  • Clerkenwell Priory
  • Priory of St. John of Jerusalem
  • St. Jones

Street/Area/District

  • Clerkenwell Priory

Maps & Views

Descriptions

from A New View of London, by Edward Hatton (1708)

St. John's Priory, a spacious and pleasant Place, more like a square than a str. (especially that end next to Clerkenwel) betn St. John's lane near S. and Clerkenwel green near N. L. 160 Yds.

from A Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster, by John Strype (1720)

The Priory of St. Johns of Jerusalem.

On the left hand also stood the late dissolved Priory of St. John of Jerusalem in England, founded about the Year of Christ 1100, by Jorden Briset, Baron, and Muriel his Wife, near unto Clerks Well, besides West Smithfield. Which Briset having first founded the Priory of Nuns at Clerks Well, bought of them Ten Acres of Land, giving them in exchange Ten Acres of Land in his Lordship of Welling Hall, in the County of Kent. St. Johns Church was dedicated by Heraclius, Patriarch of the Holy Ressurection of Christ at Jerusalem, in the Year 1185; and was the chief Seat in England of the Religious Knights of St. John of Jerusaelm. Whose Profession was (besides their daily Service of God) to defend Christians against Pagans, and to fight for the Church; using for their Habit a black upper Garment, with a white Cross on the fore part thereof. And for their good Service was so highly esteemed, that when the Order of Templers was dissolved, their Lands and Possessions were, by Parliament, granted unto these: Who after the loss of Jerusalem recovered the Isle of Rhodes from the Turk, and there placed themselves, being called thereof, for many Years, Knights of the Rhodes. But after the loss thereof, 1523, removed to the Isle of Malta, manfully opposing themselves against the Turkish invasions. Priory of St. John of Jerusalem. Their Founders. The Lands of the Templers given to this House. Knights of Rhodes.
In the Year 1401 one Grendon was Prior of this Hospital, who took upon him to go to Rhodes, to fight, according to his Vow, in defence of the Holy Mother Church, &c. against Turks and Saracens. To whom King Henry IV. gave his Letters Commendatory to all Foreign Princes, with a Character of high Respect for him. … A Lord Prior goes to Rhodes. J. S.
The like safe Conduct the King at this time granted to a Brother of the same House, called, Frater Petrus Holt, Tricoplarius Rodi ac miles noster Familiaris, taking upon him the same Adventure.
The Rebels of Essex and Kent 1381, set fire on this House, causing it to burn by the space of seven Days together, not suffering any to quench it; since the which time, the Priors of that House have new builded both Church and Houses thereunto appertaining. Which Church was finished by Thomas Docwray, late Lord Prior there, about the Year 1504, as appeareth by the Inscription over the Gatehouse, yet remaining. This House at the Suppression in the 32 Henry VIII. was valued to dispend in Lands 3385l. 19s. 8d. yearly. Sir William Weston being then Lord Prior, died on the same 7th of May on which the House was suppressed. So that great yearly Pensions being granted to the Knights by the King, and namely to the Lord Prior, during his Life, 1000l. but he never received Peny. The King took into his hands all the Lands that belonged to that House, and that Order, wheresoever in England and Ireland, for the augmentation of his Crown. This House burnt 1381. New builded by Tho. Docwray, Lord Prior. This House dissolved. Sir W. Weston last L. Prior.
This Priory, Church and House of St. John was preserved from Spoil or down pulling, so long as King Henry the Eighth Reigned, and was imployed as a Store House for the King's Toyls and Tents for hunting, and for the Wars, &c. But in the third of King Edward the Sixth, the Church for the most Part, to wit, the Body and side Iles, with the great Bell Tower, (a most curious Piece of Workmanship, graven, gilt, and inameled, to the great beautifying of the City, and passing all other that I have seen) was undermined and blown up with Gunpowder, the Stone thereof was imployed in building of the Lord Protector's House at the Strand. That Part of the Quire which remained, with some side Chapels, was by Cardinal Pool (in the Reign of Queen Mary) closed up at the West End, and, and otherwise repaired; and Sir Thomas Tresham, Knight, was then made Lord Prior there, with Restitution of some Lands; but the same was again suppressed in the first Year of Queen Elizabeth. The Use this this House was put to after its Dissolution. Pulled down. Restored. Sir Tho. Tresham new L. Prior.

from London Past and Present: Its History, Associations, and Traditions, by Henry Benjamin Wheatley and Peter Cunningham (1891)

... the site of [the Priory of St. John of Jerusalem] is marked by St. John's Square and its still remaining gatehouse. [See St. John's Gate.]