THE TEMPLARS

IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE

PRECEPTORY OF GUITING

The preceptory of the Templars at Guiting was founded about the middle of the twelfth century. Gilbert de Lacy and Roger de Waterville gave lands at Guiting; Roger, earl of Hereford, and Roger d'Oilly were among the benefactors of the Templars in Gloucestershire.

The preceptory gave its name to an secluded village on the river Windrush, near Winchcombe - the name Guiting meaning Gushing or flooding...

Slate for roofing were produced in the area, forming one of the sources of income for the Templars. The Abbot of Evesham leased meadowland in Bourton on the Water to them,

nothig no remains of the preceptory at Guiting, though there are traces of the numerous mills which ground corn at the location.

Guiting was the official centre for all the templar Lands in Gloucestershire

The following lands held by the Knights Templar were managed by the Preceptory of Guiting

SALPERTON -

At Salperton, By the gift of Peter of Stodleia, one virgate and a half of land.
Richard Wringe holds one virgate for 5 shillings; Ahelard, for half a virgate, 2 shillings

RUDGE -

At Rudge, By the gift of Reginald of St. Valéry, a certain piece of land which Robert of Felde holds for 3 pounds and 10 shillings.

GLOUCESTER (Head of the Bridge)

At Gloucester
By the gift of Roger, Earl of Hereford, one parcel of land at the head of the bridge, which Liueua holds for 5 shillings.

BODDINGTON

At Boddington
By the gift of Reginald of Beckford, half a virgate of land which Peter holds for 2 shillings and 6 pence.

SHIPTON

At Shipton By the gift of Roger de Champflur, one virgate and three acres of land.
Henry holds the virgate for 5 shillings;,

ANDOVERSFORD

At Andoversford (Temple Aneford)By the gift of William of Dowdeswell.Jordan holds the demesne (so written “dominum”) and 2½ virgates for 18 pence.Alan holds one virgate for 7 shillings.Hugh of Arle holds one virgate for 7 shillings.Gunild, a widow, holds half a virgate for 21 pence.Ralph holds one croft for 2 shillings.Herbert holds one croft for 17½ pence.Hugh of Arle (again) holds half a virgate for 30 pence.Ralph the clerk holds one garden (sartum) for 10 shillings.William holds the three acres for 12 pence.

FILKINS

Filikins was originally part of Broadwell parish and given by Ralph de Limesi of Broadwell to the Knights Templar soon after 1185. Filkins mill was granted to the Templars by Alan de Limesy (d. by 1162), and in 1185 was leased to Ralph Long for 5s. a year.

BROADWELL

The manor of Bradwell St John, so called from the 16th century, (fn. 104) originated in Alan de Limesy's grant to the Knights Templar in the mid 12th century of five hides in Broadwell, together with the church and rectory estate, and meadow at Cottesmore. During the 13th century the Templars repeatedly sought warranty for six hides or 13 librates of land against owners of the other manors. In 1279 they held over 24 yardlands in Broadwell, and another hide was held for 4 marks' rent of Brimpsfield priory (Glos.), whose right is otherwise unrecorded. Broadwell mill was acquired from Ralph of Wigginton by the Templars some time before 1185, when it was leased for 10s. a year.

Broadwell is now extremely small but in the 12th century it was bigger than Burford with a population of approx 2,000

The building of the church of St Peter & St Pauls in Broadwell history does coincide with the rise in power of the Knights Templar after the First Crusade in 1096, their official adoption by the Catholic Church in 1129, the gift of land in Broadwell parish at Filkins to them in 1185 and the building of the spire using their money in about 1260.

As with all Templar Churches, The church doesn’t face east but north-east, 45 degrees, which accords with the Templar’s practice of aligning churches with sunrise on the Patronal Saint’s day, 29th June for the Saints Peter and Paul.

KENCOT

LITTLE FARINGDON

TEMPLAR FIGURES AT GLOUCESTER

Knights Templar at Gloucester

Preceptors of Guiting

Coningeston (Conyngeston) (John of) - Commander of Guiting, arrested in January 1308, sent in penance to the Diocese of Worcester - Present in London in 1310
Craucombe (William of) - Templar at Guiting, arrested in January 1308, sent in penance to Mulcheney Abbey in the diocese of Bath and Wells, still alive in 1338