Cressing Barns

126 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

June, 2017

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Wife

Reasons for trip

“We’re off to see some barns.”
“What?”
“We’re off to see some barns.”
“That’s what I thought you said.”
“It’ll be interesting.”
“Yeah, right.”

I turned over and went back to sleep.

On waking, I had some weird recollection of a conversation about barns, though I may have been dreaming and put the thought away.

“We’re off to see some barns” said my wife again over breakfast.
“Barns?” I retorted, “I thought that was a bad dream”.

It was, however, the reality (who am I to argue?) and we were soon tootling around the Essex countryside looking out for the tourist brown signs for Cressing Temple Barns.

King Stephen’s wife, Matilda Boulogne, founded the manor of Cressing in 1137 and granted the land to the Knights Templar. This was a Catholic military organisation which was founded in 1119 and recognised by Rome in 1139.
They became the foremost charity in the Christian world and created financial empires. The organisation came to own many properties and much land in England.

In 1206AD they built the mightily impressive and now Grade 1 listed, Barley Barn at Cressing. Built without all the advantages of modern engineering and design, it is said to be the oldest timber framed barn in the world. It is cathedral-like in dimensions.

The nearby Wheat Barn was subsequently built in 1280 AD and one can only marvel at the huge timbers above your head. Modern stairs and a platform gives closer access at one end of the barn to the intricacies of the joints which keep it all in place.
Not a metal nail or brace in sight.

Next to the Wheat Barn stands the Tudor walled garden, which was created between 1550 and 1600. Nowadays the gardens contain only the herbs, shrubs and flowers that it would have contained in that period, some of them quite rare.
They are laid out in a ‘gardens within a garden’ theme.
The scents wafting on the summer breeze were delicate and refreshing.

The Arbour is a walkway covered with climbing plants including hops and eglantine roses. It is made from green unseasoned oak with chestnut trellis and is inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream –

‘I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
where oxslips and nodding violet grows,
quite over canopied with luscious woodbine,
with sweet musk roses and eglantine.

Musk roses grow against the wall of the Flowery Mead (meadow) as do oxslips, thyme and violets. A walk back in thyme! This is such a delightful place in which to sit and absorb the sights, sounds and scents of the gardens, as yours cares melt away.

Further buildings were added in the early part of the 17th century, including a farmhouse, and Granary – beware of the house martins which fly in and out of the entrance door just above your head.

A well house was constructed in 1920 to cover a deep, brick-lined well, originally dug out by the Knights Templar and you can still peer down into it’s depths.

After visiting the site, there is a modern visitor centre barn which houses a Wilkin Café and shop, one of ten around Essex. Another cream tea beckoned. (See my earlier review – Wilkin Café and Museum, about the original farm in Tiptree).

Well, I had visited the barns and found them to be a fascinating and interesting day out, so much better than I had midsummer night’s dreamed about.
A barnstorming day out indeed.

“Told you so” said my wife.
Don’t you just hate it when she is right again?

Entry to the grounds and barns are free, as is car parking, unless there is a specific event on within the grounds. Check this at www.visitparks.co.uk/places/cressing-temple.

Your sat-nav will find Cressing Temple Barns at CM77 8PD, off the B1018.

Paul

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.