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Aylesford - The Friars

Nearest town: Maidstone

Site type: former religious site

Access: Private

Church name: No Data

Diocese: No Data

County: Kent

Country: England

Grid ref: TQ72305904

Lost yew site: No

Date visited: 5-Apr-06

Recorded by: Cliff Hansford

Protection & responsibility: Owner

Yews recorded at this site: Notable

Notes: The Friars was founded in 1242 with the arrival of the Carmelites from the Holy Land. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, in1538, The Friars passed into private ownership until 1949, when the Carmelites were able to buy it back. Visiting is only allowed here with prior arrangement. I would speculate that it was during the ownership of Sir John Banks (1657-1699) that the oldest of the yews were planted. It was during the 1660's that Sir John began the work of transforming the medieval priory into an elegant country house. He paid great attention to the gardens; signs of this care can be seen in the walled garden and Orangery that remain to this day. It is within the walled garden that the nine yew trees are found.