Melchbourne Preceptory facts for kids

Melchbourne Preceptory was like a special base or monastery for a group of knights called the Knights Hospitaller. It was located in Melchbourne, Bedfordshire, England. This place was built in the 1100s and closed down around 1550.

History of Melchbourne Preceptory

A lady named Alice de Claremont started Melchbourne Preceptory when King Henry II was ruling. Other important people, like Roger de Clare, also gave gifts of land and churches to help the preceptory. Richard de Clare, Roger's son, later confirmed these gifts.

After another group of knights, the Knights Templar, were disbanded, some of their land in Bedfordshire was given to Melchbourne.

In 1242, a big meeting of the Knights Hospitaller was held here. It was led by Brother Terricus de Nussa, who was in charge of the Hospitallers in England. Not much else is known about the daily life of the preceptory.

The Hospitallers sometimes had disagreements with other religious groups, like the canons of Dunstable Priory. This was because the Hospitallers had a special rule from the Pope. They were allowed to bury anyone who had given money to their group, no matter how they died.

Like other religious houses, the Hospitallers sometimes let people live with them for a fee. In 1527, a man named William Browne was given a place to stay at Melchbourne Preceptory.

There are not many records about this preceptory. It's not often mentioned in the large books of the Hospitaller order, except for a few notes about renting out land.

When the Preceptory Closed

The exact date when Melchbourne Preceptory was officially closed is not known. However, it was briefly reopened in 1557 by Queen Mary I. She made it part of the Knights Hospitaller's property again for a short time.

Lands and Wealth

When it was founded, the preceptory received the manor and church of Melchbourne. It also got churches in other towns like Dean, Riseley, and Eaton Socon. They also owned land and woods in several places.

Over the years, the Knights Hospitaller owned various amounts of land in Bedfordshire. For example, in 1302, they owned land in Clifton and Pulloxhill. By 1428, they still owned Melchbourne and parts of Sharnbrook and Harrold.

When the preceptory was finally closed, its property was worth a lot of money. This included several manors and churches, as well as lands known as "the Temple" in Sharnbrook.

In 1278, the prior (the head of the preceptory) claimed the right to hold a local court in Souldrop Manor. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, this right was given to Thomas Cobbe.

Where Melchbourne Preceptory Was Located

The 1904 Victoria History of the County of Bedford: Volume 3 describes the location of the preceptory:

There was once a preceptory of the Knights of Jerusalem in Melchbourne. You can still find traces of its site south of the Cottage.

A writer from the 1500s, Leland, described it like this:

Here is a right fair place of square stone standing much upon pillared vaults of stone, and there be goodly gardens orchards and ponds and a parke thereby.

The Knights Hospitallers had the right to hold a weekly market on Fridays. They also held an annual fair around the feast day of St. Mary Magdalene. The spot where the old market cross stood is at the meeting point of the lane from the village and the road to Knotting.