St Bartholomew's Hospital Museum

St Bartholomew's Hospital, known as 'Bart's' by Londoners, is the oldest in capital.

The hospital was founded here in 1123 by a monk named Rahere, originally a courtier to Henry I. On a pilgrimage to Rome he almost died of malaria and was so grateful for his recovery that he vowed to build a hospital on his return to England.

Rahere had a dream in which he was saved from a winged monster by St Bartholomew and, when he arrived back in England, Rahere founded a hospital, priory and church dedicated to St Bartholomew.

In 1381 Wat Tyler, the leader of the Peasants' Revolt, was brought to Bart's after being stabbed in the back by the Lord Mayor William Walmouth, but he was immediately dragged out and beheaded by the King's men.

The small museum illustrates the history of the hospital. Along with surgical instruments there are audio tapes that detail the life of a nurse, doctor, surgeon and apothecary, describing how their roles have changed over the years.

The Great Hall and the staircase, with biblical murals by William Hogarth, can also be seen from the museum.

Also in the grounds is St Bartholomew-the-Less, the only survivor of Bart's original four chapels. The church has a 15th century tower and vestry, and its links to the hospital can be seen in its early-20th century stained glass window of a nurse, a gift of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers.

Near the museum, and not connected to it, is the medical school of St Bartholomew's Hospital, in Charterhouse Square, incorporating the former buildings of the famous Charterhouse School.

From the north side of the square, a 14th century gatehouse leads to the site of a former Carthusian monastery, dissolved by Henry VIII in the 1530s. In 1611 the buildings were converted into a hospital for poor pensioners, and a charity school. Former pupils include John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, the writer William Thackery and Robert Baden-Powell, who established the Boy Scout and Girl Guide movements.

In 1872 Charterhouse moved out to Godalming in Surrey. Open: Apr-Jul, Wed only at 14:15 Admission charge.