Friday 21st May 2010
Cressing Temple
The Medieval Manor of the Knights Templar.
The Knights Templar was a society of warrior monks set up to protect pilgrims to the Holy Land.
When the Holy Land was lost to the Muslims, they lost their purpose but continued to administer the lands and property in Europe they had accumulated over the ages. Money lending was forbidden to Christians so was usually left to the Jews but the Templa
rs developed a method of advancing money and achieved great wealth. This caused envy and as they did not behave like monks (to drink like a Templar was a popular saying) the French king was able to disband them and executed many of them.
Cressing Temple was granted to them by Queen Matilda in 1137. They farmed its 2000 acres until 1312 when their lands passed to the Knights Hospitaller.
We had an excellent guide in Barry Hillman Crouch, an archaeologist who has worked there for many years. The sun shone and it is a very relaxing place, beautiful old buildings set in the best Essex countryside.
We went first into the Granary and Court Hall built in 1623. Set in the floor was an even older fireplace made up of tiles set on edge. Upstairs was a large open room which at one time was used as a Court. The whole building, being made of wood, was leaning at a fair a
ngle.
The Tudor Walled Garden once adjoined a Tudor Great House but this was demolished after the Civil War. Today the Garden is a haven of peace with water trickling through it and a high viewing platform. A small building was constructed by modern craftsmen using only axes to demonstrate the methods used in the great barns.
Just outside the garden is the stone lined well, perfectly preserved to this day and used for drinking water on the estate until a few years ago.
The most imposing buildings on the site are of course the two great barns constructed for the Templars and used down to the present day. The Wheat Barn contains an exhibition showing the incredible skills needed to build the barns.
We finished a very enjoyable day with tea in the nice visitor centre.
Cressing Temple
The Medieval Manor of the Knights Templar.
The Knights Templar was a society of warrior monks set up to protect pilgrims to the Holy Land.
When the Holy Land was lost to the Muslims, they lost their purpose but continued to administer the lands and property in Europe they had accumulated over the ages. Money lending was forbidden to Christians so was usually left to the Jews but the Templa
rs developed a method of advancing money and achieved great wealth. This caused envy and as they did not behave like monks (to drink like a Templar was a popular saying) the French king was able to disband them and executed many of them.Cressing Temple was granted to them by Queen Matilda in 1137. They farmed its 2000 acres until 1312 when their lands passed to the Knights Hospitaller.
We had an excellent guide in Barry Hillman Crouch, an archaeologist who has worked there for many years. The sun shone and it is a very relaxing place, beautiful old buildings set in the best Essex countryside.
We went first into the Granary and Court Hall built in 1623. Set in the floor was an even older fireplace made up of tiles set on edge. Upstairs was a large open room which at one time was used as a Court. The whole building, being made of wood, was leaning at a fair a
ngle.The Tudor Walled Garden once adjoined a Tudor Great House but this was demolished after the Civil War. Today the Garden is a haven of peace with water trickling through it and a high viewing platform. A small building was constructed by modern craftsmen using only axes to demonstrate the methods used in the great barns.
Just outside the garden is the stone lined well, perfectly preserved to this day and used for drinking water on the estate until a few years ago.
The most imposing buildings on the site are of course the two great barns constructed for the Templars and used down to the present day. The Wheat Barn contains an exhibition showing the incredible skills needed to build the barns.
We finished a very enjoyable day with tea in the nice visitor centre.
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