Cressing Temple, Medieval commandery and gardens in Cressing, United Kingdom
Cressing Temple is a medieval Templar commandery featuring two Grade I-listed timber-framed barns from the thirteenth century and a walled garden located between Witham and Braintree in Essex. The complex preserves important examples of medieval craftsman architecture and includes a recreated Tudor-period garden.
Queen Matilda of Boulogne granted the estate to the Knights Templar in 1136, establishing one of England's earliest Templar settlements. After the order's dissolution, the property remained in private hands and was farmed for centuries.
The recreated Tudor garden displays traditional English gardening methods using period plants and designs from the sixteenth century, showing how gardens were actually laid out and maintained back then.
The site is open year-round for visitors to explore the barns, storage buildings, and gardens either with a guide or independently. Wear appropriate footwear since pathways can be uneven and much of the complex is outdoors.
The Barley Barn, built between 1205 and 1235, is the oldest documented timber-framed barn in the world and continues to impress visitors today. Its construction reveals surprisingly advanced techniques that feel almost modern.
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