Standon Preceptory facts for kids
Standon Preceptory was a special kind of base for the Knights Hospitaller, a famous group of knights from the Middle Ages. It was located in a place called Standon in Hertfordshire, England. This base was set up before the year 1154, probably soon after the Knights Hospitaller took over the Standon Church in 1151. It stopped being used sometime before 1443 or 1444.
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What Was Standon Preceptory?
A "preceptory" was like a local headquarters or a farm for the Knights Hospitaller. These knights were part of a religious and military order that started around the time of the Crusades. Their main jobs were to care for sick and injured people, especially pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land, and to protect them.
How Did Standon Preceptory Start?
The land for Standon Preceptory was given to the Knights Hospitaller by a person named Gilbert de Clare. He gave them the church in Standon, about 140 acres of land, and even his vineyard. This gift helped the Knights Hospitaller set up their base.
What Was Standon Preceptory Used For?
Standon Preceptory served several important purposes:
- Home for Sisters: Until about 1180, it was a home for the sisters of the Knights Hospitaller order. These sisters helped with the care of the sick and other duties.
- Hospital: It worked as a small hospital, providing care for people who were ill or injured.
- School: The site also had a school, likely teaching young people about the order and basic education.
- Living Quarters: The main building had a dormitory upstairs where people slept. Downstairs, there was a refectory (a dining hall) and a kitchen. It might have been home to about twelve or more Knights at one time. We know that at least two sisters, named Melisene and Johanna, lived there.
Why Did Standon Preceptory Close?
The Preceptory eventually closed down. This happened during a time when Henry VIII, the King of England, decided to close many monasteries and religious houses across the country. This event is known as the "Dissolution of the Monasteries."
What Happened to the Land?
After the Preceptory was closed, the land, the church's income (called the rectory), and the right to choose the local Anglican vicar (a church leader) were given to a man named Ralph Sadler. Today, a very old barn from the 1400s, built with timber frames, still stands at the site.
