Guess the Place

[Stewie]

Is it a railway station?

[John Walker]

Faversham area?

[johnfilmer]

Sorry being AWOL for so long, first our younger son and his wife took up late morning for a visit. I then managed to split some logs before our eldest turned up bearing gifts for his mother's birthday that he had missed as he was visiting Norway. That was the rest of the afternoon gone...

Right, where is this impressive display of flues?

[johnfilmer]

There are many myths and rumours about the Knights Templar, I would love to know more.

Just up the lane from me is Solomons Temple, possibly with an ancient connection to the Knights. The nearest church is at Wychling, dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch, apparently a common Templar dedication.

I live in Solomon’s Cottages, hence my interest.

Back in the morning with the next one.

[MartinR]

Location information:

• Nat Grid:                   TQ 73314 68536
• Nearest Post Code:  ME2 2AH
• Co-ords (WGS84):    51°23'22"N,000°29'22"E or 51.38940,0.48955

[John Walker]

Yet another GTP I've learnt from.  I don't think I would have found that one.

[Stewie]

Yes it is indeed Temple Manor. Owned by English Heritage but run by Medway Council. The surviving building sits in glorious isolation on an Industrial estate. It is possible to park at the site when it is open, otherwise its a bit of a walk from Strood station. Downstairs it has a fine example of a vaulted stone ceiling supporting an earthen floor in the room above. The building was owned by the Knights Templars who acted as a modern day bank in that you could pay in at one venue and withdraw money elsewhere. Their original purpose was to guard pilgrims in the Holy land, hence the reference to 'escorted tours in foreign lands'.
Over to you Johnfilmer.

[johnfilmer]

Temple Manor, Knights Road, Stroud, fits the bill.

Interesting looking place, but where do you park to visit it?

[Stewie]

Forth Clue: After the organisation mentioned below (early exponents in international finance and credit and also involved in escorted tours of foreign lands), ceased to exist, the building passed back to the crown in the reign of Edward II. Edward III subsequently gifted it and the income from it was used to endow an order of Franciscan nuns.

[MartinR]

That sounds like Thomas Cook & Son, but where the connection to an area off the tourist trail yet near Rochester is I've no idea.

[Stewie]

I believe that the owners of the building were early exponents in international finance and credit and were also involved in escorted tours of foreign lands 🤓

[Stewie]

Getting warmer johnfilmer

[johnfilmer]

Rochester?

[Stewie]

Not Nettlestead Place JohnWalker. Third Clue: The building and surrounding estate was granted to a religious order by Henry II and may also have acted as a lodging house for travellers journeying between London and the continent.

[John Walker]

Nettlestead Place ?