Temple Belwood Kitchen gardens
Temple Belwood was situated in the village of Belton.
A complex history saw pass through several religious orders and families before the Johnson family bought it in the 1600’s. They were responsible for the property being rebuilt and the addition of the east and west wings. The estate is said to have been 3000 acres in total.
Along with the house was Belwood Chapel built by the knights Hospitallers in about 1530, it was later used as a farmhouse. Additionally, in the ground was a house where outside staff lodged next to two coach houses a stable block, saddle room and storeroom. Two castellated lodges marked the entrance to the driveway and halfway up the drive stood the walled kitchen gardens. Said to be five acres with heated walls to assist the ripening fruit.
Local legend says that Squire Johnson hid gold in the walls, but this most likely started when a poem was printed in a guide booklet to the house in the 1930’s.
Unfortunately, the walls to the kitchen garden are all that remain today of the Temple Belwood buildings.
