Explore Swanley Grange

What is a grange?

Granges were like monastic farms that provided food for the monks and Swanley was one of three ‘home’ granges within walking distance of the abbey itself. The wool from the sheep that the monks kept generated an income for the abbey and enabled it to grow into one of the largest and wealthiest monasteries in the country.

What can I do here?

Step inside to try your hand at traditional crafts such as weaving and knitting, meet the new woolly and feathered residents, and explore the vegetable garden.

Veggies galore!

The vegetable garden design is inspired by that of a monastic grange with turf seats, heritage varieties of herbs and beans, and plants which will be dug back into the ground to fertilise the soil.

Natural dye demonstrations

On the first Saturday of every month (April to December) pop along to Swanley Grange and see our volunteers creating colourful woolly masterpieces. Using plants from around the estate they're dying fleece all sorts of colours.

Get hands on

Learn a little bit more about the abbey's link to the wool trade and have a go at a woolly craft in the workshop every school holiday!