Great Wilbraham Preceptory facts for kids
Great Wilbraham Preceptory was a special kind of headquarters for a famous group of warrior monks called the Knights Templar. It was located in the villages of Great Wilbraham and Little Wilbraham in Cambridgeshire, England. This place played an important role in the history of these knights.
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The Knights Templar and Their Base at Great Wilbraham
What Was a Preceptory?
A preceptory was like a local office or farm for the Knights Templar. It was a place where the knights lived, trained, and managed their lands. These lands helped to fund their main mission: protecting Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. Think of it as a combination of a monastery, a military base, and a farm.
The Story of Great Wilbraham Preceptory
The history of Great Wilbraham Preceptory began around 1226. This was when the manor, or large estate, of Great Wilbraham was given to the Knights Templar. At that time, Alan Martel was the Templar Master, a very important leader of the order. Before the Templars owned the land, it belonged to monks from Ely Cathedral.
The Templars built their preceptory here. It served as a center for their activities in the area. In the nearby village of Little Wilbraham, at a place called Temple End, an old manor house stands today. This house was built much later, during the time of Queen Elizabeth I, but it is on the exact spot where the Templar preceptory once stood.
Clues from the Past: Saint Nicholas Church
The Church of Saint Nicholas in Great Wilbraham holds many secrets from the past. Much of the church building itself dates back to 1226, the same year the Templars set up their base. If you look closely, you can find signs of the Knights Templar. There is a special Templar tombstone hidden away under the church tower. Also, on the outside of the north wall, you can see a Templar cross carved into the stone. These marks remind us of the knights who once lived and worshipped here.
The End of the Templars
The Knights Templar were a powerful and wealthy order, but they faced many challenges. In the early 1300s, the order was dissolved, meaning it was officially ended. When this happened, the ownership of Great Wilbraham Preceptory and its lands passed to another famous group of warrior monks: the Knights of St John of Jerusalem. The Hospitallers continued to manage the property for some time after the Templars were gone.
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