St John's House Museum, Warwick

Coordinates: 52°17′00″N 1°34′49″W / 52.2832°N 1.5804°W / 52.2832; -1.5804
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

St John's House
St John's House Museum, Warwick is located in Warwickshire
St John's House Museum, Warwick
Location within Warwickshire
Established1960; 64 years ago (1960)
LocationWarwick, United Kingdom
Coordinates52°17′00″N 1°34′49″W / 52.2832°N 1.5804°W / 52.2832; -1.5804
Websiteheritage.warwickshire.gov.uk/museum-service/st-johns-house-museum-planning-your-visit

St John's House is an historic house located in

grade I listed building dates from around 1666, and is considered one of the most important buildings in Warwick.[1]

Historic use

As a hospital

In the mid 12th century, during the reign of

pilgrims.[2] The Hospital of St. John the Baptist was one of two such hospitals in the town of Warwick at the time. The other was St Michael's Leper Hospital, founded with the sole purpose of providing help and respite to those in the parish suffering from leprosy. Of both hospitals, only the chapel building of St. Michael still stands.[3]

In 1291's

shilling
per year. In 1337, protection was granted to the hospital's brethren and their attorneys for the collection of alms at churches. At this time it was suggested that some building renovation was necessary.

It is known that in 1610 the site comprised four standing buildings, including a gatehouse topped with

crenulations. The largest of the three other buildings has crosses at the roof's apex, suggesting its religious use as the site's chapel.[4] At the time the hospital site also included a cemetery - remains have often been dug up during refurbishment or remodeling works on the House. The first recorded case was in the 1830s when work was being undertaken in the kitchen garden. In 1987, two workmen digging to the Coten End front of St. John's Court flats discovered two skulls.[5]

As a residence

During the

Henry VIII, St. John's was granted to Anthony Stoughton, for services to the King. The land was later passed to his eldest son William by inheritance. Neither of the two lived in the house, but they leased it out to others such as Richard Townsende, a yeoman at Warwick. Eventually the land was inherited by the son of William Stoughton, Anthony Stoughton (junior), who built a house on the site. Of note is the fact that in the East Wing of the house there is a door lintel which bears the date 1626 and the initials A.S.. The house remained in the possession of the Stoughton family until 1960.[6]

As a school

In 1791, the building was rented out for the first time by the Earl of Warwick for public use, with the intent of converting it into a school. The school, then known as St John's Academy, was founded by William T Fowler and was set up as a school for "Young Gentlemen" (as advertised on the hand-bill[7] This was then reverted in 1845 under Benjamin Townsend, the son-in-law of William Fowler.[8] After Townsend's death in 1857, three of his daughters, Susanna, Elizabeth and Sarah, took over the running of the school, with it being a girls' school from at least 1861.[9]

As a public service

After a brief spell of private tenancy in the start of the 20th century, the house became the property of the War Department, where it was used for the administration of the

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. In 2016 the Museum ceased to be open to the general public.[10]

The House

Whilst run as a museum the house exhibits provided information about the history of the site, as well as Warwick and the surrounding area. Features of the museum included:

The museum is no longer open to the public. It is now the home of Warwickshire Heritage Learning and also hosts special events and is available for venue hire.

See also

References

  1. ^ "St John's House A Grade I Listed Building in Warwick, Warwickshire". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  2. ^ A detailed history of the hospital.
  3. ^ Dugdale's History of Warwickshire
  4. ^ Warwickshire County Record Office - 'The Ground plott of Warwick', in Dugdale, W. The Antiquities of Warwickshire, London, 424-5
  5. ^ Archaeological Report 0446 Rev A July 2006, Warwickshire County Council records
  6. ^ "A History of Warwick". Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  7. ^ Poster for St John's Academy, Warwick, for the education of young gentlemen c.1800. Warwickshire Country Record Office (PV WAR St John 8)
  8. ^ Benjamin Townsend married Susannah Fowler, daughter of William, at Warwick on 3 January 1814 (Warwickshire Record Office, DR181, marriages at St Nicholas, Warwick)
  9. ^ Death of Benjamin Townsend, Warwick, March quarter of 1857 (https://www.freebmd.org.uk, vol 6d page 324); 1861 census for St John's House, Warwick
  10. ^ Dingle, Charlie. "St John's House". Heritage and culture. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  11. ^ "H&CW Website - School Events". Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  12. ^ "Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum (Warwickshire), St John's House, Warwick". Retrieved 30 January 2012.


52°17′00″N 1°34′49″W / 52.2832°N 1.5804°W / 52.2832; -1.5804