Collections

The Museum of the Order of St John has a collection of more than 60,000 objects, ranging from historic arms and armour through to modern first aid equipment. Browse the selection below to learn a little more about our collections.

watercolour painting in muted colours showing cloisters and arches of an old building
Watercolours

Cloister of St Mary’s Nunnery

Unknown
Watercolour
1756
LDOSJ 6299
This watercolour painting was recently digitised as part of The Watercolour World project. The painting shows the beautiful architecture believed to be part of St Mary’s Nunnery, Clerkenwell. 

Before the dissolution of the monasteries, Clerkenwell could have been known as the Monastic Quarter. The name ‘Clerkenwell’ is thought to refer to the natural springs and the actual well (of which part is still visible on certain walking tours of the area), and the ‘clercs’ of the area, a word often used to refer to clergymen. 

In medieval times, not only did the Order of St John have their Priory in the area, but so did the nearby Charterhouse, then a Carthusian monastery, as did the Nuns of St Mary’s.  

Unfortunately, none of the Nunnery’s buildings remain today, but we do know that the Nunnery lay to the north of the Priory of the Order of St John. The Nunnery is said to be of Augustinian canonesses, although it is often described both by contemporaries and by historians as being of the Order of St. Benedict. It was founded around 1144 and was a fairly wealthy and successful nunnery until it was suppressed in 1539.  

Having been founded at a similar time to the Order of St John’s Priory, this watercolour interestingly shows the cloisters at the nunnery, revealing archways within which are reminiscent of the arches still present in the Crypt of the St John Priory Church.

Sponsors

The Museum of the Order of St John would like to thank all those who have supported and continue to support its work. In particular, the Museum would like to thank the following for their generosity: