Great Wilbraham Preceptory facts for kids
Great Wilbraham Preceptory was a special kind of headquarters for a group of medieval knights called the Knights Templar. It was located in the villages of Great Wilbraham and Little Wilbraham in Cambridgeshire, England. This place has a long history, going back to the year 1226 when the Knights Templar first set up their base here.
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What Was a Preceptory?
A preceptory was like a main office or a 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, which was to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. Preceptories were important centers for the Templars across Europe.
The Knights Templar at Great Wilbraham
The story of Great Wilbraham Preceptory began in 1226. This was when the Knights Templar were given the land. They quickly established their preceptory here. The Church of Saint Nicholas in Great Wilbraham still has parts that date back to this time.
Early Days and Important Figures
When the Templars took over the land, it was given to a man named Alan Martel. He was a very important leader for the Templars at that time, known as the Templar Master. Before the Templars, the land belonged to monks from Ely. This shows how different groups owned the land over many years.
Hidden Clues and Old Buildings
If you visit the Church of Saint Nicholas today, you can find some cool clues about its past. There's a Templar tombstone hidden under the church tower. You can also spot a Templar cross on the outside of the north wall. These marks remind us of the knights who once lived and worked there. In the nearby village of Little Wilbraham, at a place called Temple End, there's an old Elizabethan manor house. This house stands right where the original preceptory used to be.
From Templars to Hospitallers
The Knights Templar were a very powerful group for many years. However, their order was eventually dissolved. This means they were no longer allowed to exist as a group. When this happened, the Great Wilbraham Preceptory changed hands. It was given to another famous group of knights called the Knights Hospitaller, also known as the Knights of St John of Jerusalem. They continued to use the site for their own purposes.
Exploring More
External Links
- Pictures and description at the Cambridgeshire Churches website [1].
- Picture of the Church exterior
- Picture of the St. Nicholas Roll of Honour
