Our history is woven into the fabric of Smithfield and Clerkenwell. Beyond our gates, you will find a wealth of medieval remnants, world-class archives, and iconic architecture waiting to be discovered.

During the medieval period monastic institutions dominated the Clerkenwell and Smithfield area. These monasteries were all closed between 1537 and 1540, during the dissolution of the monasteries after Henry VIII broke with the Roman Catholic Church. Today remnants of three of them, the London Charterhouse, the Priory of St John of Jerusalem and St Bartholomew’s Priory, still survive.  

In addition to the Charterhouse, the Museum of the Order of St John, the newly restored Barts North Wing, and the churches of St Bartholomew the Great  and St Bartholomew the Less are open to visit. Come and discover more about our historic almshouse, the UK’s oldest hospital and the origins of the St John’s Ambulance service. 

If you are walking in the area you may like to explore some of the other historical sites using the tour created by Geo Tourist as part of their Epic England series, which can be listened to if you download their app to your smartphone. You can also book onto a walking tour of Clerkenwell’s Monastic Quarter with Islington Guided Walks. 

The London Archives is located nearby in Clerkenwell, and holds the records for our charity, Sutton’s Hospital in Charterhouse, the majority of which cover the period 1611 – 1993. The London Archives is a public research centre which specialises in the history of London, caring for and providing access to the archives of businesses, schools, hospitals, charities and all manner of other organisations from the London area. It also has a programme of events, exhibitions and conferences.

The Barbican, famous for its Brutalist architecture and arts venue, is also a close neighbour.