Perhaps you’ve heard whispers of a place where medieval history dances with tranquil gardens. That place is Orpington Priory. Orpington Priory stands as a testament to centuries of change.
Let’s journey back to AD 1032. An estate known as “Orpedingetune” was gifted to Christ Church Priory in Canterbury. A building on this very site is first documented in 1270. The Great Hall underwent a transformation in 1290. It was pulled down and lovingly rebuilt. Improvements continued in 1471.
Fast forward to 1539. The dissolution of Christ Church Priory led to the estate being granted to the Hart-Dyke family. The estate then passed through various families. It served as a private home. Further alterations were made over the years.
During wartime in 1942, architect George Rose meticulously surveyed Orpington Priory. He created detailed plans as part of emergency recording efforts. It was then listed as Grade II* in 1954. The service wing was demolished in 1959-60. A brand new library was constructed on that very spot.
During the library’s construction, Orpington Priory underwent a restoration. In 1965, the museum opened its doors to the public. However, the library relocated to the shopping center in 2010. The museum bid farewell in 2015.
But there is more to this place. The Priory Gardens were probably laid out by Dr Herbert Broom in 1865. He collaborated with landscape garden designers. Gertrude Jekyll was one of them. The Priory also enjoyed a long-standing relationship with architect Geoffrey Jellicoe. Cecil Hughes, a friend of Gertrude Jekyll, purchased the property in the 1930s. He started a new chapter. The buildings were repurposed. The grounds were transformed into a public park.
The Priory’s gardens suffered damage from bombing. They have recovered beautifully. You can view relics from times long past in glass cases throughout the garden. The Swan Pool was built in the 1820s. It was part of a scheme to develop a chalybeate spring.
The building known as The Priory dates back to the C13. It was rebuilt in the C15 and enlarged in the C17. It acquired the name ‘The Priory’ during the Victorian era. Before that it had been called ‘The Rectory’ or ‘The Parsonage’.
From the west front of Orpington Priory, a path meanders through a brick arch. It leads to the gardens. These gardens are divided into individual compartments. There are grassed terraces. The Theatre Garden was designed by Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe. It was rebuilt in 1997.
Orpington Priory’s parkland extends north. The meadow is now a central grassed area. It is enclosed within iron railings.
So, as you wander through the Priory Gardens, remember its layered past. From medieval estate to public park. Orpington Priory is a testament to time’s passage.