Clerkenwell: London’s Workshop · 2
The well behind the glass
Ep. 2 · The water that named the district, and the priory gate
FitTrip Editor · 2026.07.16
The name comes from the medieval Clerks’ Well, where parish clerks staged mystery plays; the well survives inside 14–16 Farringdon Lane, visible through the glass. The district’s other axis was the priory: the Knights of St John held Clerkenwell Priory, and St John’s Gate (1504) remains, now housing a free museum. Water and prayer — the district’s first layer.
It is rare to see a place-name’s origin with your own eyes. Clerkenwell is that rare case: behind the ground-floor window of an ordinary office building at 14–16 Farringdon Lane, the well that named the district is preserved Fact.
The Clerks’ Well
In the Middle Ages, parish clerks gathered at this well to stage mystery plays — hence the Clerks’ Well, Clerkenwell Fact. That this was good-water land foreshadows the whole series: good water drew breweries, gin distillers, and finally the artisans’ workshops Estimate.
The knights’ gate
The district’s other axis was the priory. The Knights of St John held Clerkenwell Priory here, and the south gate of 1504 — St John’s Gate — still arches over St John’s Lane Fact. Inside is the Museum of the Order of St John, covering the order and St John Ambulance, free to enter Fact. Water and prayer are the first layer; on top of it, Episode 3’s clockmakers set up their benches.
FAQ
- Can I really see the well?
- Yes. It is preserved inside 14–16 Farringdon Lane and visible through the ground-floor window at any time; interior visits are limited — check Islington’s arrangements.
- What is St John’s Gate?
- The south gate of the Priory of the Knights of St John, built in 1504. It now houses the Museum of the Order of St John (free), covering the priory, the order and St John Ambulance.
- Why does the Green have no grass?
- Clerkenwell Green has served as a village square since medieval times and was paved early. It has been a green in name only for centuries.
Checklist
- See the well through the glass at 14–16 Farringdon Lane
- Walk under the arch of St John’s Gate
- The museum is free — check opening days
- Continue to Clerkenwell Green (Ep. 4)
See the full course on FitTrip →