🏍️ ST JOHN’S COMMANDERY | Exploring 800 Years of Hidden History in Kent

Join me on the Voge 300 Rally as MotoVista heads into the Kent countryside to discover one of the county’s fascinating hidden historic sites: St John’s Commandery at Swingfield. At first glance, this peaceful medieval building seems a world away from the great conflicts of the Crusades. But almost 800 years ago, this was part of an estate controlled by the Knights Hospitaller, the famous military and religious Order of St John of Jerusalem. In this ride, we leave the main roads behind and explore the story of the Commandery, from the origins of the Knights Hospitaller in Jerusalem to the establishment of their communities across medieval England. The surviving chapel dates from around 1230 and is an incredible reminder of what once stood here. During the Middle Ages, the Commandery was surrounded by a busy working estate containing a hall, gatehouse, kitchens, stables, barn, gardens and numerous other buildings. Inside the chapel is another remarkable survivor: a medieval crown-post roof constructed using timbers felled between 1395 and 1405. Then came Henry VIII and the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In 1540 the Commandery was suppressed and its days as a Hospitaller establishment came to an end. Many of the surrounding buildings disappeared, while the chapel survived by being transformed into part of a farmhouse. Centuries later, it remains standing. This is exactly what MotoVista is about. Great roads. Beautiful scenery. Motorcycles. History. And discovering the fascinating places hiding just beyond the road. So come along for the ride as we explore medieval Kent on the Voge 300 Rally and discover the story of St John’s Commandery. This was the first time that I've used a drone, so please bear with me and hopefully my footage will improve in the next episode. If you enjoy motorcycle adventures, historic locations, beautiful British countryside and discovering places you may never have known existed, please SUBSCRIBE to MotoVista and join me for the next ride. 🏍️ Bike: Voge 300 Rally 📍 Destination: St John’s Commandery, Swingfield, Kent 🏰 Adventure: Knights Hospitaller and Medieval Kent Thanks for watching. Michael MotoVista #MotoVista #Voge300Rally #StJohnsCommandery #KnightsHospitaller #MotorcycleAdventure #MotorcycleTravel #Kent #VisitKent #MedievalEngland #BritishHistory #MotorcycleTouring #AdventureBike #Voge #HiddenHistory #HistoricEngland #MotorcycleLife #KentCountryside #UKMotorcycle #MotoVlog