Cressing Temple Barns

Cressing Temple Barns offers a unique piece of history at the 13th century, Knights Templar Barns, complete with restored Tudor walled garden and Tiptree tea rooms.

The Grade I listed Barley and Wheat Barns are the oldest known timber framed barns and amongst the few remaining Templar buildings in England.

Granted to the Knights Templar in 1137, Cressing Temple Barns is of significant historic interest for its unique buildings and garden.

Internationally renowned for its impressive and remarkably well preserved medieval carpentry, the barns attract visitors from around the world, providing them with a remarkable insight into the building techniques of the time and a glimpse into the lives of the people who built them.

Nestled in the grounds, the walled garden has been faithfully recreated as a Tudor pleasure garden. A place of beauty and tranquillity, sure to delight anyone with an interest in horticulture or history.

Take a virtual tour of the beautiful walled gardens in all their spring glory and discover seasonal gardening tips from one of the Head Gardeners, Rebecca. Discover more about the impact of The Peasants' Revolt of 1381 on Cressing Temple though a recent research project. Read more about the restoration of some of the working farm machinery at Cressing Temple Barns.

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The Call - Amazed By You.

After the Uprising: Wat Tyler Country Park

Wat Tyler Country Park has countryside adventure for everyone including 125 acres of country walks, wildlife spotting, adventure play for kids, a Village Green edged by historic, picturesque thatched cottages, and a marina on Pitsea Creek in atmospheric Essex marshland.

The sculpture trail includes huge crawling creatures, whispering dishes and sound pods to interact with, and art you can sit on to get a different view of the world.

After the uprising was made from 7 sweet chestnut trees in 2006 by Robert Koenig. In 1381 peasants from the Essex marshland villages marched on London to protest against the poll tax. The rebellion was quickly suppressed. Most of the rebels were allowed to go home but the leaders were pursued, captured and executed. The leader of the peasant’s revolt was Wat Tyler. 

In order to represent this mass of humanity marching on London Robert Koenig chose to carve 7 symbolic figures from sweet chestnut trees. Wat Tyler stands proudly at the front of this group, other figures are bound and captive behind him. Sited in this clearing and looking as if they have just emerged from the wooded area behind, the eleven foot carvings convey a sense of the drama of the event and its often overlooked importance in the history of the area.

See my other posts about Robert Koenig's work here, including his Odyssey exhibition at St Martin-in-the-Fields.

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Peter Frampton - Show Me The Way.