Templar Sites

ABOUT THE SITE

Temple Bruer is located in the East Kesteven district of South Lincolnshire.

The Preceptory de la Bruere, or the Heath, stood a little to the west of the Roman highway, Ermine Street, and about ten miles from Sleaford. The foundation charter of 1150 shows an area described as 'de terra vastate et brueria' on the plateau south of Lincoln, 'between the road to Sleaford and the road to Stamford'. (1) By 1185 an agricultural village had grown up around the preceptory, and the villagers were known to have paid the Templars rents in money, hens, and services, like cultivating the land and animal husbandry.

The original round church of the Templars is unfortunately no longer there, but in 1726, remains of the church and a round nave with a tower attached to it were still visible. But, as is often the case, a hundred years later, only the tower was still left standing. "Excavations since…have made it clear that the church had been lengthened and two towers added during the 12th century. There was an apsidal crypt beneath the church. Now only one tower and a few fragments survive of this thriving preceptory." (2) This tower is 54 feet high.

Interestingly, Temple Bruer was said to also possess a portrait similar to that at Templecombe. (Please see 'Templecombe, Somerset' for more information.) It is not known what happened to this portrait.

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1. Tull, George, Traces of the Templars, p105
2. ibid, p106

Temple Bruer was the burial place of Brother Morinus, the Templar who was almoner to St. Hugh of Lincoln.