TEMPLE CHELSING - 

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The site is known today as Bengeo Temple Farm and Chelsing Farm, two farms located roughly halfway between and to the north of the villages of Tonwell and Wadesmill, the latter being a listed historic monument. From the Templar and Hospitaller periods, nothing remains except for the moats surrounding Bengeo Temple Farm. As for Chelsing Farm, the current building dates from the mid-17th century.

Chelsing was originally one of the manors held around Bengeo by Lord Geoffrey de Bech, before passing in the 13th century to the de Tany family, who came from Saint-Aubin-du-Thenney and were then vassals of the Lords of Bournein Lincolnshire. The acquisition of this estate by the Templars was relatively late. It was first partially leased from 1253, before being purchased outright by the Templars in 1269, a transaction carried out by Humbert de Pairaud.

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From 1278 onward, the Templars held assizes on the site, modified seigniorial dues on bread and beer, and even erected a gallows there.

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The transfer of the Templars' assets in England was relatively contentious, and despite the papal bull Ad providamissued in 1312, the Hospitallers had to wait until 1324 for the English Parliament to officially recognize their rights to the major Templar properties. However, in the case of Temple Chelsing, it appears the transfer took place as early as 1313.

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The property seems to have become a simple farm attached to the Commandery of Standon, as it is mentioned only in that commandery’s cartulary thereafter.

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The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century led to the suppression of the English Langue by King Henry VIII in 1540 and the annexation of all its assets by the Crown. The estate was then granted to Sir Ralph Sadleir in 1542, and his son Henry inherited it in 1587, selling it in 1595 to Sir Philip Boteler.

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Although Temple Chelsing was a Templar fief, the documents from the trial of the Order of the Temple do not allow us to confirm that it was ever a commandery, even if that seems likely. There is no record of any admission ceremonies, chapters, or preceptors associated with the site