Old
London Maps
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to scores of rare and detailed maps, plans, articles, information and
views of medieval, sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth century
London for the genealogist, family historian, student and the curious.
St
John's Gate Clerkenwell
St
John's Gate (dating from 1504) is all that remains of the ancient priory
of the Order of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem (the Hospitallers).
The gate forms the entrance to St John's Square. In 1815 the Reverend
Joseph Nightingale remarked of the above engraving, "the artist,
in having introduced the waggon team, has manifested his usual good
taste; as it serves to hide the puerile modern entrance to a Tavern
or Liquor shop, which has barbarously mutilated a great portion of the
left side of this noble gateway." During the Georgian period the
gateway served not only as a liquor ship, but also as a coffee house
and as a printing works. In 1874 the Hospitallers managed to regain
possession, and from here in 1877 they began the modern St John's Ambulance
Service.
St
John's Gate remains, looking much as it does here.
