Templar Sites

ABOUT THE SITE

Temple Cowley, the original Templar preceptory in Oxfordshire, was founded in 1136. Bishop Robert Chesney of Lincoln granted the Templars freedom from market tolls at Banbury in the 12th century.

We learn from George Tull in Traces of the Templars that "Alan la Zouche, who was a great benefactor of the Temple, gave them much land in Sibford. A chapel at Sibford Gower was granted to them prior to 1153 by Agnes of Sibford. It then became independent of the mother church at Swalcliffe and acquired its own burial ground. She also gave Temple Mill, on a tributary of the Stour. The grange at Sibford was the centre of their Oxfordshire estates." (1)

Queen Matilda, as early as 1139, had given the Templars all her land at Cowley, in pure and perpetual alms, and also rights in the royal forest of Shotover.

After the move to Sandford preceptory, a few miles to the south of Oxford, Temple Cowley was reduced in status to a 'camera', or cell, as opposed to a Preceptory. (2)

Unfortunately, there remains nothing to be seen today of Temple Cowley, which originally stood near Temple Street, except a fish-pond; Cowley has long since been integrated into the city of Oxford.

In Oxford (city), the Templars also owned property near the castle and in the surrounding suburbs, but again, it is unfortunate that nothing at all remains to be seen today.

The 'Templar Road' in Oxford, which lies on the outskirts to the north of the city, has no real connection with the medieval Order at all, contrary to popular belief. Also, not surprisingly, nor does the "Templar Shopping Centre"!

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1. Tull, George, Traces of the Templars, p71
2. ibid