Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Preceptory or camera of the Knights Templar founded in 1159, dissolved in 1312.

Monument Types

• MANOR (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• MANOR HOUSE (MANOR HOUSE, Medieval - 1159 AD to 1539 AD)
• TEMPLARS CAMERA (TEMPLARS CAMERA, Medieval - 1159 AD to 1342 AD)
• TEMPLARS PRECEPTORY (TEMPLARS PRECEPTORY, Medieval - 1159 AD to 1342 AD)
• SITE (Medieval to Modern - 1200 AD to 1959 AD)
• MANOR HOUSE (MANOR HOUSE, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

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TQ 73316853] STROOD TEMPLE [G.T.] (Rems. of) (1) [See M.O.W. Guide Book.] (2) "Temple Manor" (nameplate) is as described by Authority 2. (3) Scheduled listing. (4) Temple Manor. Grade I. This land was part of a royal manor until in 1159 Henry II gave it to the Knights Templars. (5) Additional bibliography. (6-7) The surviving building comprises a 13th Century hall on a vaulted undercroft with 17th Century brick additions at either end. Timber framed extensions, in part late medieval, suvived until recently. Excavations by S.E. Rigold revealed the foundation trench for the original hall, post-holes for an external staicase or gallery, traces of outbuildings demolished early in the fourteenth century (after the dissolution of the Templars) and footings of timber extensions on top of the debris. Against these was a 15th Century midden. a good pottery series is associated with the earlier phases. (8) Additional bibliography. (9) [TQ 73316853] (10) STROOD KNIGHT ROAD Temple Manor Hall of the Knights' Templars, later a farmhouse and now an ancient monument in the custodianship of English Heritage. Storeyed hall of the templars; early C13. [Full architectural reference] LISTED GRADE I. (11) Scheduling description interprets the Templar site as a Camera, or subsidiary farm to a Preceptory. Scheduling affirmed. (12)

Trenching for CCTV. in one trench post-medieval walls were found. These possibly are connected with the later farm buildings destroyed in the early 20th century. (14)

A watching brief on the refurbishment of four soakaways in 2007 observed that they were filled with 17th century and later rubble but also a few blocks of ashlar that was interpreted as of Templar date (15)

From the Register of Scheduled Monuments:
Preceptory or camera of the Knights Templar founded in 1159, dissolved in 1312. The surviving building comprises a 13th century hall on a vaulted undercroft with 17th century brick additions at either end. Timber framed extensions, in part late medieval, survived until recently. Excavations by S.E. Rigold revealed the foundation trench for the original hall, post-holes for an external staircase or gallery, traces of outbuildings demolished early in the fourteenth century, after the dissolution of the Templars, and footings of timber extensions on top of the debris. Against these was a 15th century midden. A good pottery series is associated with the earlier phases. The building was in use as a farmhouse during the 17th century.

English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

<1> O.S. 25" 1938 (OS Card Reference). SKE47806.

<2> "Temple Manor" 1962. (S.E.Rigold) (OS Card Reference). SKE32688.

<3> F1 CFW 19-DEC-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42649.

<4> DOE (IAM) Anc Mons Eng 2 1978 111 (OS Card Reference). SKE40707.

<5> DOE (HHR) City of Rochester 1969 41 (OS Card Reference). SKE40162.

<6> Bldgs of Eng West Kent and the Weald 1980 552 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38094.

<7> Arch J 122 1965 86-131 (SE Rigold) (OS Card Reference). SKE36535.

<8> Med Arch 2 1958 204 (DM Wilson and JG Hurst) (OS Card Reference). SKE46746.

<9> Moated Site Res Grp Rep 6 1979 48 (CJ Bond) (OS Card Reference). SKE47241.

<11> OS 1:10000 1975 (OS Card Reference). SKE48160.

<12> DOE(HHR)City of Rochester upon Medway Kent, 2nd Dec 1991. 158 (OS Card Reference). SKE41278.

<13> English Heritage Scedule Entry AA 50985/1 30-JUN-1995 (OS Card Reference). SKE41636.

<14> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1998, Watching Brief at Temple Manor, Strood (Serial). SKE7285.

<15> Graham Keevill, 2007, Temple Manor, Strood: Report of an archaeological watching brief on the refurbishment of existing soakaways (Unpublished document). SKE13077.

Sources and further reading

Related records