St. Johns House Museum

Story

St John's House Museum is a historic house located in Warwick, just east of the town centre, in Warwickshire, England. It is now a museum, and has had a history spanning almost 900 years. To the side of the house is a small garden belonging to St John's and to the rear is the large St. Nicholas' Park. The museum is currently operated by Warwickshire Heritage and Culture's Museum Service, a branch of Warwickshire County Council.Historic UseIn the almost 900 years of its existence, St. John's House has had a wide and varied history. Many of its uses have been related directly to helping local people, particularly in the realms of health and education - a tradition which is continued today in its use as a free museum to educate the local community on the area's history.As a hospitalIn the mid 12th century, during the reign of Henry II, the land on which St. John's House stands was given to the establishment of the Hospital of St. John the Baptist. The hospital was brought into being by William de Beaumont, then Earl of Warwick. This hospital provided two purposes: To help the local poor and ill; and to provide casual overnight boarding and food to impoverished travelers such as pilgrims. The Hospital of St. John the Baptist was one of two such hospitals in the town of Warwick at the time. The other was the Hospital of St. Michael, 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.