Hospitaller Dagger

The Knights Hospitaller were founded in 1080 in Jerusalem to provide care for poor, sick and injured pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. After the First Crusade in 1099 it took on a more militarised role providing protection for pilgrims and the defence of Jerusalem.  In the late 12th century the order began to gain recognition in England and the priory of St. John of Jerusalem at Clerkenwell was founded as their head house there. Buildings such as St John’s Jerusalem and Knights Gate, Quenington, were built on land donated to the order by the nobility. When the Knights Templar order was dissolved in England, their properties were handed over to the Hospitallers.