Ribston Preceptory facts for kids

Ribston Hall with its old chapel, built in the 1200s.

A Ribston Preceptory was a special kind of religious house or base. It was located near the village of Little Ribston in North Yorkshire, England. This site was on the east side of the River Nidd.

The Ribston Preceptory was first started in 1217. A nobleman named Robert de Ros gave the land to a famous group called the Knights Templar. The Knights Templar were like warrior monks. They were a powerful Christian military order during the Middle Ages. They protected pilgrims and fought in crusades.

From Templars to Hospitallers

The Knights Templar became very powerful. But their order was eventually shut down. This happened between 1308 and 1312. After the Templars were gone, the Ribston Preceptory was given to another group. This new group was called the Knights Hospitaller. They were similar to the Templars. They also cared for pilgrims and defended Christian lands.

The Knights Hospitaller kept the preceptory until 1540. This was during a time known as the Dissolution of the monasteries. During this period, King Henry VIII closed many religious houses in England. By 1540, the Knights Hospitaller had mostly left Ribston. Regular farmers were working the land instead.

Ribston Hall and the Old Chapel

Later, in 1674, a large house called Ribston Hall was built on the same site. Even though the old preceptory buildings were gone, a very old part of it survived. This was a chapel from the 13th century. This chapel is still connected to Ribston Hall today. It is a reminder of the site's long history.