Copmanthorpe Preceptory facts for kids

Copmanthorpe Preceptory was a special kind of religious building in North Yorkshire, England, during the Middle Ages. It was like a local headquarters for a famous group of warrior monks called the Knights Templar.

What Was Copmanthorpe Preceptory?

A preceptory was a type of monastic house. It was a place where the Knights Templar lived and managed their lands. The Templars were a powerful Christian military order. They were formed to protect pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. They also became very wealthy and owned many properties across Europe.

How Did the Templars Get Copmanthorpe?

The land for Copmanthorpe was given to the Knights Templar by a man named William Malbys. This gift included the entire manor of Copmanthorpe. A "manor" was a large estate with land and buildings.

The earliest records showing the Templars owned Copmanthorpe come from a special document. This document was a "confirmatory charter" from William de Ros. He was an important person who died in 1258. A charter was like an official written agreement or grant. It confirmed that the Templars truly owned the land.

Who Was the Preceptor?

Each preceptory had a leader called a "preceptor." This person was in charge of the local Templar community. In 1292, the preceptor of Copmanthorpe was Robert de Reygate.

Robert de Reygate had an interesting job. He was also recorded as being the "keeper of the mills" near York Castle. Mills were very important in medieval times. They ground grain into flour for food. Being in charge of them meant he had a lot of responsibility.