Education services
Our aim is to make the museum a centre of active learning and
fun to visit for people of all backgrounds, abilities and
ages.
Education is a key element in exhibition planning, helping to
open up the history and collections to the largest number and range
of people.
Anyone can visit the museum galleries or book a tour of the gate
and we also provide additional services for young people and
lifelong learners.
For St John Cadets and Badgers
- General tours of the gate, but also
short talks on different parts of the collection. A group might,
for example, be interested in arms and armour and we can plan
special week day sessions during half-terms and holidays - call us
to arrange.
- Free booklets full of fun, hands-on activities to keep them
busy and happy finding out about St John Ambulance in the 'Time to
Care' exhibition.
- Activity packs, books, and a video to help them enjoy learning
about the history of their organisation (see publications
list).
For schools
The St John's Gate site, and the museum collections, offer the
rare opportunity of exploring medieval, Tudor, Victorian and modern
history in one location. They also offer exciting possibilities for
subjects other than history. Phone us and we will discuss what you
want and how we can help. Recent specially targeted tours have
included:
- Medieval medicine and warfare.
- St John Ambulance and Victorian Clerkenwell.
- Henry VIII and Dissolution.
We also have a range of types of evidence to help answer some of
the suggested questions for Key Stages one and two
history, particularly:
- Why did Henry VIII marry six times?
- What was it like for children in the Second World
War?
- What was it like for children living in Victorian Britain?
- How did life change in our locality in Victorian times?
- How has life changed in Britain since 1948?
For life long learners
The St John Historical Society
organises regular lectures open to all with an interest in the
Order of St John and other military orders and related topics
We hold other events for adults in conjunction with special
exhibitions; for further details of any of our forthcoming
events, please click here.
Publications
Crusades, Cultures in Conflict by Pam
Kernaghan, Educational Consultant - a textbook for Key
Stage three and Cadets, published by Cambridge University
Press as part of their school history series.
(£5.95) This is out of print. A photocopy costs
£4.
Knowledge of the Order - a training and
resources pack covering the history of the Order of St John. Aimed
at Cadets but a good general introduction to a long and complex
story. Pam Kernaghan. (£7.95) Put of print - photo
copy £4.
St John Ambulance in Victorian Britain - a
small pack of source material and activities for Badgers and Key
Stage two. Pam Kernaghan. (£1.50) Out of print -
photocopy £1.
The Story of the eight-pointed Cross - a 40
minute video, presented by Tony Robinson in a clear and
entertaining way. An excellent introduction to the history.
(£15.00) On DVD soon, please enquire at the museum
by calling 020 7324 4005.
St John Ambulance in World War Two - a book by
Pam Kernaghan which uses original sources to tell the story of St
John's extensive wartime work - out of print but available in
photocopied form for £2.50.
Hospitallers: The History of the Order of St
John by Jonathan Riley Smith. Excellent, illustrated
introduction to the Hospitallers and the modern British Order of
St. John by a leading expert on the History of the Crusades.
(£9.95)
St John Ambulance in the First World War; a
26-page illustrated, in-house publication by Curator Pamela Willis
on the work of St John in the Great War.
(£3.50)
Time to Care: A Multimedia history of St John
Ambulance. This CD-ROM a chance to explore the museum interactives
on your own PC. It covers the story of St John Ambulance- Before
1918- Between 1919 and 1945- After 1945. (£5)
The Museum of London Archaeology Service’ new book on the
fascinating results of over 20 years of archaeological digs to
uncover the Priory of St John is now available. The book,
‘Excavation at the Priory of the Order of the Hospital of
St John of Jerusalem, Clerkenwell, London’, written by
Gordon Malcom and Barney Sloane is on sale in the Museum shop and
via mail order, priced £31.95.
Postage and packing charges - £ 1.50 per item - free for 5 items
or more.
To order copies of the publications send cheques made payable to
St John Ambulance to:
Museum of the Order of St John
St John's Gate
St John's Lane
London
EC1M 4DA
To contact us
You can contact us either by phone on 020 7324
4005, fax 020 7336 0587 or by
email.