Sixteenth century walled garden, Friary Garden (EHER 47417)

A small walled garden, on part of the precinct of the Maldon Carmelite (White Friars) Priory (EHER 7728).

The triangular site is level, approximately 0.1h in area, bounded by Chequers Lane to the east, service buildings of Friary East (EHER 38229) to the south, and a pedestrian path from White Horse Lane to the Friary Education Centre on the west. It is close to the County Library and car parks. These roads provide access for heavy goods vehicles to High Street premises. The garden is surrounded by historic walls, with a small pedestrian gateway and a modern locking gate in the west wall. The only building is a small wooden shed for the storage of garden implements at the south end of the garden. The importance of the garden is due to the historic garden wall which runs north/south along the east side of the garden (EHER 38231) and to the probability that there has been a garden on the site since the 16th century. There may be buried archaeological remains of importance within the garden. The wall has suffered from both vandalism and vehicular damage. There is not a section that has not been partially rebuilt due to vehicle, wind or root damage. The other garden walls are of brick, and are of more recent date. The garden itself has not been restored to any particular period. The gravel paths remain where they were found when the garden was cleared, and the borders positioned within the original path alignment. There is a pond at the north end, a number of benches and two arches. The planting is designed to give year-round interest with an emphasis on historic plant varieties. The garden is open to the public on the first Sunday of each month. <1> The Georgian walled garden (EHER 47417) is first referenced in title deeds from 1807. <2>