Priory of St John the Baptist was situated without the west gate of the city. Ailred le Palmer about the end of the twelfth century founded this hospital for the sick. John Comyn, the first English archbishop of Dublin, Leonard abbot of St Mary, Simon prior of St Thomas, and Duvenald prior of All Saints, were the witnesses of the act. The founder assumed the office of prior.
AD 1216 Pope Innocent III granted to Henry the archbishop the patronage of this priory
AD 1308 John Decer mayor of Dublin built the chapel of St Mary in this hospital
AD 1322 John Walsh was prior
AD 1323 John Onextiffe was prior
AD 1331 Prior William was appointed lord chancellor of Ireland
AD 1542 a pension was granted to Sir Thomas Everard the late prior of fifteen pounds annually.
In this house was an infirmary which contained fifty beds for the sick. The houses site and possessions together with the priory of St John the Baptist near Drogheda were granted to James Sedgrave, merchant of Dublin, at the yearly rent of 2s 6d, who advanced the sum of 107l 15s 8d to the plunderers.
In the 35th of King Henry VIII this religious house was granted to Maurice, earl of Thomond, at the fine of 14 18s 8d Irish and in the sixth of Edward VI it was granted with houses and lands &c to James Sedgrave forever at the annual rent of fifteen shillings.
