Faxfleet Preceptory facts for kids

The Faxfleet Preceptory was a special kind of home and office for the Knights Templar. It was located in what is now the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Today, the old site is mostly buried under a field called Temple Garth, near Thorpe Grange Farm. This spot is about 20 miles (32 km) south of Youlthorpe and 25 miles (40 km) south-west of Beswick, west of Kingston upon Hull.

The History of Faxfleet Preceptory

Faxfleet was one of the most important Templar sites in Yorkshire. It was built on land given in 1185 by a knight named Roger de Mowbray. He was a powerful lord from Northumberland who had fought in the Crusades.

The Knights Templar had helped Roger de Mowbray. They paid money to free him after he was captured by people called the Turks. Because of their help, he gave them the land for Faxfleet.

In 1185, records show that several people, including Odo, Serlo, and Stephen, lived there. They were like renters who farmed small pieces of land for the Templars. Each farmed about 2 acres (8,094 square meters) using an old method called strip farming.

Leaders at Faxfleet

A "preceptory" was like a local headquarters for the Knights Templar. The leader of a preceptory was called a "preceptor." From 1290 to 1301, Geoffrey Jolif was the preceptor at Faxfleet. Another important Templar leader, Robert de Halton, was in charge of the Templar lands in the whole county at that time.

The End of the Preceptory

In 1308, the Faxfleet Preceptory was closed down. Some people who worked there were arrested and sent to York. They were later told to join a different religious group called the Cistercian Order.

When it closed, the Faxfleet Preceptory was worth a lot of money. It was valued at over £290. That would be like having over £300,000 today!