Templar Sites

ABOUT THE SITE

Sandford Preceptory was one of the largest Templar houses outside London. Temple Cowley, the original Oxfordshire preceptory, was founded in 1136 and functioned for over a century.

In 1239-40, a local landowner, Thomas de Sandford Jr. gave all of his lands at Sandford, just south of Oxford on the Thames, to the Temple at Cowley, in free alms. "Further gifts followed and Thomas himself became a Templar, completing his oblation to the Order. " (1) Shortly thereafter, the Preceptory moved from Cowley to Sandford, which was only a few miles away to the south.

There still remain part of the 13th c. chapel, and a few conventual buildings that were incorporated into Temple Farm, which, as George Tull tells us in Traces of the Templars, "is now a country club between the church of St. Andrew and the river. Windows and fragments of stone carving have been preserved by being built into the farmhouse wall, and over the front doorway is a shield bearing the cross of the Templars." (2)

But probably the most well-known artefact from Sandford is an 11th c. metal reliquary, which portrays Christ the King in majesty, and is inscribed around the edge with: INTVS QVOD LATET CVNCTO NOS CRIMINE LAXET (may that which lies within release us from all sin.) At the top a bird-like creature holds a suspension loop; at the bottom is a small hole which apparently held a pivot for a back plate (now missing), the top of which would have fitted under the bird's tail, to secure both parts. " (3) Nothing similar to this artefact has ever been found; it obviously belonged to the Templars, but it is not thought that it was made for them. It can be seen today in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.

It is also interesting that the title 'Preceptor de Couele' (Cowley) was still in use for quite some time, even after the transfer to Sandford.

• Temple Cowley entry

1. Tull, George, Traces of the Templars, p72
2. ibid
3. ibid

The major Templar preceptory in Oxfordshire; unfortunately, nothing remains to be seen of it today.

The Sandford reliquary (see above) can be seen here today.