Aslackby Preceptory

Aslackby Preceptory
Aslackby village – the preceptory was to the south-east of the church
Location	The Temple Farm
Coordinates	52°51′34″N 0°23′16″W / 52.8595°N 0.3878°W / 52.8595; -0.3878Coordinates: 52°51′34″N 0°23′16″W / 52.8595°N 0.3878°W / 52.8595; -0.3878
OS grid reference	TF 08643032
Founded	1164 or earlier
Demolished	After 1536 and before 1892
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated	06-May-1952
Reference no.	1062758
Location in Lincolnshire

Aslackby Preceptory in Lincolnshire lay to the south-east of Aslackby Church. Until about 1891 a tower, possibly of the preceptory church, together with a vaulted undercroft, survived as part the Temple farmhouse. Temple farmhouse was subsequently rebuilt and a 15th-century window and a stone pinnacle remain in the garden

The preceptory was, according to William Dugdale, founded either in or before 1164. This is recorded in Dugdale’s Monasticom, which states that Hubert de Rye presented the Templars with church of Aslackby with its chapel "in the year when Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury departed from the King [Henry II] at Northampton" – i.e., 1164. After the order was suppressed in the first decade of the 14th century, the property passed to Temple Bruer.

The word preceptory is used for the community of the Knights Templar which lived on one of the order's estates in the charge of its preceptor. From that its meaning was extended to include the estate and its buildings. The one at Aslackby was founded in 1192. Little of its structure survives, but early descriptions and sketches indicate that its church was like that at Temple Bruer Preceptory, a chancel with an apsidal east end and a round nave to its west. This was a standard design for Templar churches, in imitation of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The best-known example in England is the Temple Church at the western end of the City of London. Later, towers were built at both the Lincolnshire churches, the one at Aslackby apparently around 1200, on the south side of the round nave. In 1192 there was already a village with a small castle. The honour of Craon was divided, and one third of a knight’s fee was granted to the Templars who managed it from Aslackby CW - U.T.

John Moore writing in the Gentleman’s Magazine Vol. 80, Pt 1, pp. 2-3

Aslackby Temple

Aslackby, Iselby, or Aslaby, a small village two miles North of Folkingham, was formerly much noted for a Preceptory or Commandery of the Templars, founded by John le Mareschel, about the time of Richard I. They had the church and lands here by gift of Hubert de Ry before 1185, as appears by the rental made that year*; but the Preceptory might only commence from John le Mareschel, heir to Hubert de Ry, giving them the capital messuage about 1193.

According to Tanner, it was afterwards given to the Hospitallers; and, as part of their possessions, was granted, 33 Henry VIII. (1541), to Edward Lord Clinton.

Here was also a large round church, now rebuilt as a farm-house, still called The Temple. The embattled square tower remains at the South end, of two stories; the upper story was formerly open to the roof, but has of late years been fitted up as a chamber by Mr. Williamson, the present occupier. The lower story is the cellar, vaulted with groined arches, on whose centre are eight shields. The central one is charged with a cross, the others are: "A chevron charged with a crescent between three squirrels; Lovell.—In a bordure engrailed a chevron between three spread eagles.—Twenty roundels, a dexter canton, Ermine; Zouch.—Barry of eight, in chief a greyhound; Skipwith.—In a bordure engrailed, a chevron Ermine.—A chevron between three fleurs de lis—Three garbs quartering seme de lis, a lion rampant.—Ermine on a fesse, three crowns.

At other joints of the ribs:

Ermine, a fesse fusilee impaling a bend, Ermine; Hebden, impaling Rye.—On a bend three stars impaling on a bend three birds.—Two bulls impaling the bend and birds.—A plain shield§."

Over and under the South window without are three shields, one charged with a cross, and the two next—On bend three birds.

Yours, &c. John Moore

∗ Monast com Anglicanum, vol. 11. pages 532, 535

§ A South view of this Tower, engraved by B. Howlett from a drawing by John Moore, is given in the Second Part of Collections for a Topographical History of the Hundred of Aveland, County of Lincoln, now publishing.