Friars, Aylesford Priory home of the Carmelite Brothers
The Friars or more commonly known to Maidstone people as Aylesford Priory.
Restoration started in the late 1940's and continued up until the late fifties. Please see the photos kindly submitted by the Brothers themselves.
Said to have been the site of a vision or apparition of the Virgin Mary.
Renovation of the Friars
You can see the mammoth task undertaken by the Carmelites in the late forties and fifties.
The priory attracts people from all over the world as a retreat, it’s a working monastery where pottery is a valuable source of income for the Carmelites. The up-keep of the Friars is phenomenal.
Here is a photographic record of one of the last ceremonies prior to the completion of the Friars as we know it today.
Maria Jimenez
Country: Spain
Maidstone I remember it well:
"The Friars", the mere fact of pronouncing this words brings me so many nice memories from the time I used to work there as a "voluntary worker". The last time I did it was about 16 years ago. I was so young then, and still a student of English Philology. Now, I am a doctor on that matter and work as a teacher at a Catholic school in Valencia (Spain). But I can’t forget how much I learned at The Friars and how much English some people taught me there day after day. Yes, the brothers and fathers (brother Lawrence, brother John, brother Michael, father Wilfred,...), the workers ( Laura and Michael Drury, Dora, Ruth, Michelle, Maureen, Emma, Jess, Jo, Steve, Michael, Bill, ...)-please forgive me if my memory fails to remember all your names-. All of them helped me so much in all aspects. Working at The Friars, so far from home for many months, made me grow and made me more mature. So that, for too many reasons I will never forget those ducks which woke me up every morning, that green grass all around, that snow which covered the whole place in January, those flowers which suddenly blossomed in spring, that lake I used to look at from my window every day, that lovely home made food we had every day... . In short, my time at The Friars was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life. I will never forget it. In fact, I still keep in touch with Eileen Wilson and Ruth Stevens -a couple of friends who I made there. Maria. P.S.: I hope this writing space was meant to write this sort of thing. Anyway, if it helps to make people visit The Friars, I will be very pleased.
Yes Yes Yes Maria it was just for this sort of memory and thank you.
The Friars Stands on the river Medway
The monastery stands on the river Medway. The nearby Aylesford bridge was the last and oldest bridge in England being in constant use up until a few years ago.
Allington CastleAllington Castle here another enterprise of the Carmelites and because of its link with Catholicism it was rumoured that there is a tunnel between Allington and Aylesford.
Rene Newman New Zealand Maidstone I remember it well: Have at home,in daily use,a pottery salt.pepper and vinegar set purchased at the Friars,Aylesford about 50 years ago.The salt cellar still has the original cork.A memento of a lovely day spent there with my family.Personally I have two vivid memories of the Friars.The wonderful feeling of peace and relaxation of being there and the most beautiful carvings on the pews which we were told was made by a Luftwaffe pilot who bailed out over Kent and found peace of mind in life with the Carmelites after his war experiences. Peter it was rewarding to read today about that gem that Aylesford treasures in its area.Perhaps someone can confirm the story of the carvings Yes I know what you mean about the peace there. Lets hope someone is able to confirm the story about the pilot. |