Temple Manor

About the museum

Temple Manor in Strood was given to the Knights Templar by Henry II in 1159. The stone hall that stands today was built about 70 years later, around the 1230s, as lodging for dignitaries travelling between Dover and London. Probably only two knights lived there permanently, with a bailiff managing the estate, and by the early 14th century the Templars had turned the manor into a rented farm.

After King Philip of France seized Templar property in 1307, the manor passed to the Crown. In 1336 Edward III gave it to the Countess of Pembroke, and its income supported an order of Franciscan nuns. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was granted to Edward Elrington in 1539, then changed hands many times and was divided up. In the 1930s Rochester city council bought the remaining estate for industrial development, and the manor house fell into disrepair.

The Ministry of Works restored the derelict building after the Second World War, and the external stair was rebuilt in the 1950s. Today the hall stands in a small garden on an industrial estate west of the River Medway. The first-floor hall still shows traces of medieval wall paintings. Entry is free, but the site is currently closed to visitors.

Highlights

• 13th-century hall built by the Knights Templar
• Traces of wall paintings in the first-floor hall
• Small garden setting
• Free entry when open

Permanent exhibition

• The medieval hall – A 13th-century Templar hall whose first-floor room still shows traces of wall paintings.

Operated by

English Heritage

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free when the site is open.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The site has steep stairs and uneven surfaces, and climbing is not permitted. Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds only; assistance dogs are welcome throughout the site.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The manor stands on Knight Road in Strood, west of the River Medway, within an industrial estate.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Museum shop: not available

The site has a small garden; no cafe, shop or other facilities are mentioned. Smoking, vaping, barbecues and naked flames are not permitted.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit