ThTHE TEMPLARS

IN OXFORD

THE TEMPLARS IN OXFORD

The Legacy of the Knights Templar in Oxfordshire

The Knights Templar established their first preceptory at Temple Cowley in 1136, where they remained for nearly a century before relocating to a more prestigious site at Sandford. Their presence in Oxfordshire was supported by generous benefactors, including Alan La Zouche, who gifted them lands at Sandford. Additionally, before 1153, Agnes of Sibford granted the Templars a chapel at Sibford Gower, along with land at Temple Mill. The grange at Sibford became the administrative heart of their Oxfordshire estates.

Following the establishment of the Sandford preceptory, Temple Cowley’s importance declined, becoming a subordinate cell or camera. Today, no physical traces of the preceptory remain near Temple Street, except for the traditional fish pond. Over the centuries, Cowley has been absorbed into modern Oxford, now bustling with shopping centers and residential areas, leaving little visible reminder of its medieval past.

THE PRECEPTORY OF SANDFORD

Sandford is situated on the Thames, just to the South of Oxford. The Preceptory there was the second largest houses of the order, outside of London. Thomas de Sandford gifted the lands at Sandford to the Templars circa 1239-1240 (Who himself later became a Templar) There remains part og the 13th Century Chapel at the location, which was used as a barn at Temple Farm, along with some other conventional buildings incorporated into the farm, which is now a Hotel, between the Church of St Andrew and the river.

Windows & fragments of stone carvings have been preserved by being built into the wall, and over the doorway of what would have been the chapel is the cross of the Templars.

By the time the Templars had built their preceptory here, they were already well established in the county, having aquired rich properties from other benefactors., Sandford being their chief preceptory in Oxfordshire

HORSPATH

In 1141, the Empress Matilda gifted the Knights at Temple Cowley, rights of pasture at Shotover Forest. A survey in 1298, also showed the Templars as holding lands at Akemere wood, which lay just beyond the forest ib the village of Horspath, granted to the Templars in 1225 by Bernard Malet. This was a large holding of approx 880 acres as well as woods, & common pasture grounds. 120 Acres seem to have been in demense - with the value of the lands between 1194 - 1338 being thus

1194 - £3 14s

1195 - £6

1305 - £6 9s 2d

1312 - £6 4s 5d

1338 - £7

MERTON

Merton near Bicester, was an important Manor which was given to the Templars in 1152-1155 by Simon, Earl of Northampton. Although in an isolated spot, it had 25 tenants inb 1185, A lot of effort was put placed in clearing woodland at Merton, along with the construction of a watermill, a mill leet and a bridge - The value of the lands in Merton being as follows

1185 - 25 Tenants - £4 12s 8d

1279 - 49 Tenants - £7 10s 9d

1308 - 31 Tenants - £6 5s 10d

1338 - Unknown. - £5 12s 6d

TEMPLAR FIGURES AT OXFORD

Knights Templar at Oxford

Colingham (Richard of) - Templar at Sandford, arrested in January 1308, penitence in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
William of Chalesey (Chelse):
Sautre (William of) - Commander of Sandford, arrested in January 1308, penance in the Diocese of Lincoln - Present in London in 1310
Warwick (Warrewyck) (William of) - Prior to Sandford, arrested in January 1308, penance in the diocese of Bath and Wells

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