Temple Bruer ~ Lincolnshire Knights Templar
The second half of my day in Lincoln involved trying to find Temple Bruer - one of the last remaining Templar buildings still extant.
It took a bit of locating so here included as a route on how to find the site. It was worth it - well as far as I’m concerned anyway
The land that the site is situated on was given to the Templar’s by William Asheby sometime mid 12th century.
The land at the time was of little use - barely scrub land. But the Order turned the land round into productive and profitable farmland.
The first sight that greeted me was Temple Bruer Church (not actually part of the site) A beautiful little church with an unusual spire - I took a photo for posterity
St John’s the Baptist Church Temple Bruer
Archaeology - Digs on the Site
There are two noted archaeological digs on the historical site. Initially one in 1883 and again in 1907.
Tales after the first dig suggested all sorts weird and wonderful things down in the vaults but the second dig failed to find any such hidden vaults. The did define outlines of the building though which lead to a reliable artists impression of how the site once looked.
The Standing Tower
The tower is pretty impressive and much better than I thought. It is clearly well cared for I was well worth the trip for me - for me that is -unless you’re really interested in such things it’s not really a family day out !
How to Get There - Directions
Situated off the A15 between Lincoln and Sleaford. There is actually a sign post on the A15 signalling the turn off, after that though nothing. Just keep on the road until you come to the church. There is then an awkward junction. Go left on the farm track road - follow it to the T junction and turn left.
Important Note: The remains are in the keeping of English Heritage and the local council but it is on private property. Please do seek permission to visit the site once there and treat the farm with respect.
Knight’s Templar Receptory
Standing on the steps was quite a feeling - who had gone before me and what could the stones tell if they could speak.
It must be a sign of age that I now find so much enjoyment in days like this but so be it … I’m happy with it.
As it Looked Originally
Artist: David Vale
The sun was out for my entire visit and it was a glorious day - I’m pleased I made to effort to visit the site which is of great importance in Templar history not to mention Lincolnshire History.
It didn’t help with my search for the misssing monastery or a possible Templar connection but it certainly fuelled my interest and brought to an end a delightful day.
Historically Yours
Rod
Take a look at the inside when we revisited Temple Bruer
Little Brother said,
April 22, 2009 @ 10:40 pm
Rod,
Great stuff! There really are some interesting places around here, much more history than the county is often given credit for.
LB
Rod said,
April 23, 2009 @ 7:50 am
LB
absolutely !
What’s annoying is the fact that so little is made of what we’ve got.
Can you imagine if something of the importance of above was in Suffolk or the like . . .
Happy St George’s Day !
Rod
Simon Brighton said,
April 24, 2009 @ 8:15 am
Hi Rod
sometime ago i made some notes relating to the area discussed, i have pasted them below if that is acceptable.
all the best simon
From Lincoln to Sleaford the A15 cuts through the ‘Lincoln Heath’. Travellers on this fast road may notice little of interest in the bleak landscape, as the fields and woods speed past. Yet, unlike more urbanised land the Heath has retained much of its history and a little investigation reveals much.
In the centre of the heath stands the Church of St John the Baptist. John has always been the saint who along with Mary Magdalene attracts much speculation with regard to their real identities and both have followers and cults who revere them particularly. But this church also stands in a very specific location, the intersection of five lanes.
Cross roads were viewed as places with strong spiritual power, both feared and revered. Suicides, vampires and witches all had a chance of ending up buried at one cross roads or another as they were denied consecrated ground, the ground being left uncultivated, often wooded.
As well as being used as alternative resting places, cross roads often were the site of a sacred monument. Before Christianisation these were pagan, probably marked by a standing stone or perhaps an already present spring. Christians placed crosses and chapels in the process of taking over pre-Christian sacred sites.
Directly to the south, by the cross roads of Ermine Street and Temple Lane stood a large standing stone that had been Christianized by the carving of a cross, this was recorded in the 1700s by William Stukeley, but now no trace remains
One wonders how the intersection of five lanes must have been regarded. A pentagram with John the Baptist’s church at the centre! Coincidentally the preceptory tower just to the south contains medieval pentagram graffiti .
A few miles to the north east of St Johns church stands the tower of Dunston pillar, another site that has a mysterious history. This tower was constructed for unspecific reasons by Francis Dashwood the founder of the infamous ‘Hellfire Club’ who held sex magic rituals in caves tunnelled out of a hill in West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. He was also a friend of William Stukeley and they both were members of a druidical/ Masonic lodge based in Woodhall Spa.
The tower built in 1751, came to be used as a ‘land lighthouse’ to guide travellers over the notoriously dangerous heath, where highway men operated freely and Dick Turpin committed some of his crimes. The reasons Dashwood constructed the tower are unclear, it may have been a simple folly, a 92 foot viewing platform to survey the surrounding countryside, or possibly the product of a bet with a local engineer, that to build such a tall and thin structure at this location would be impossible.
In the Second World War, the danger to low flying aircraft caused the tower to be reduced to a third of its original height. It stands at the side of the A15
Around a mile to the south of St John’s church is the site of the Temple Bruer Knights Templar preceptory. The village of Temple Bruer, [as with most other villages with the prefix ‘Temple’] was created by the Templars for their workers and expanded as the preceptory grew in power and influence. The surnames of the Templar’s tenants at that time show how multi cultural the population was, with Scandinavian, Anglo Saxon and Norman French working and living together.
All that remains of the Preceptory buildings today is the southern tower of the round church, standing at the back of Temple farm. [This is open to the public at all reasonable times].
The site gained a notorious reputation after the Templars, in 1307, were accused of black magic and outlawed sexual practices. This was compounded when a local antiquarian, the Reverend Oliver conducted a survey in the early 1800s. He found evidence of individuals being entombed alive and infanticide. His investigation also found underground chambers and evidence of tunnel that may stretch some miles to the west to the village of Wellingore.
The remaining tower is internally covered in graffiti, some of which is apparently contemporary to the Templars. A number of these inscriptions are in cryptogramatic form, and have yet to be deciphered.
At the southernmost point of the Templar’s land is a cross roads with the name Byards Leap, famous for the witch who lived there, defeated by a squire that rode the horse Blind Byard. Again this is a crossroads and the witch is most probably a folk memory of pre-Christian goddess worship.
Rod said,
April 24, 2009 @ 9:02 am
Hi Simon
thanks for the outstanding comment and welcome to the site.
I’ve read it twice now and it’s of great interest - I’m sure it will prove likewise to many others for many years now it is preserved here for posterity.
Thanks again Simon
All the best
Rod
Dee Anne said,
May 25, 2009 @ 2:48 am
I’ve visited this site, twice. I agree: it’s most impressive. It touches the past in a most remarkable way.
tina said,
June 13, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
I moved to this area a few years ago and stumbled upon the tower while walking my dogs. I was amazed that there was no inforation about it in local interest leaflets at the tourism centre. I found it quite fascinating and details given by simon quite intrigueing.In this area there is the abandoned village and the most sightings of ghosts according to tv program phone in by richard and judy on the A15, Considering the de vinci code film was partly made at lincoln cathedral you would have thought the county council would have promoted the area, I think i will try finding out a bit more about the knights templar in this area.
Rod said,
June 13, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
Hi Tina,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site, hope you’ll return.
I completely agree that it is staggering that we don’t take more pride in our local history, which incidently, is far more interesting than many realise.
All the best
Rod
val littlewood said,
July 4, 2009 @ 11:28 pm
Hi there Rod. Just happened upon your blog when looking for some dates for Temple Bruer. It was one of my favourite places to walk but I havent been there for years. I keep a blog and have just put a couple of photos of scarecrows up that I took at Temple Bruer twenty years ago. I had written and illustrated a book about Scarecrows back then and all of my refereneces came from Lincs. I am just writing about the book on the blog. I am very interested in all things Lincs and was just home in May trying to get some interest to ressurrect an old book about Lincolnshire Country food that I illustrated,, its an uphill struggle..Things just seem to get forgotten in Lincs. However I am so delighted to see someone singing the praises of this wonderful county.
My blog entry re Temple Bruer is here: http://pencilandleaf.blogspot.com/2009/07/distant-figures-and-tin-men-at-temple.html
Will put a link to your page with your permission??
Val
Rod said,
July 5, 2009 @ 9:02 am
Hi Val
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site.
Please do link to the page Val - it would be appreciated.
I do hope you get somewhere withh the book and I can readily imagine what a struggle it would be.
Drumming up interest in Lincolnshire is not easy but hopefully people like us can make a little difference.
The site and photographs look great Val, I’ll keep an eye on the site
All the best
Rod
val littlewood said,
July 5, 2009 @ 4:47 pm
Will do Rod.. just had a comment on the post telling me that a branch of the Bruers went to Australia where they now make wine.. see www.templebruer.com.au/history.
They use the tower as a logo on their bottles.. nice!
Callum Jensen said,
August 5, 2009 @ 12:40 pm
Hi All!
As I’ve been fortunate to have a DVD movie documentary released this Autumn involving all things Templar, I’ve included an entire section dedicated to Temple Bruer and its involvement in the ‘Lincoln cathedral Da Vinci code’ which has written about in two books under the pen mane of ‘Dan Green’. I trust this exposure will establish Bruer where it belongs as a precious remains of the historical Knights Templar
Incidentally, I hear the land is about to change hands, its previous owner Mr Broughton having sold up?
chris keyworth said,
August 5, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
some of you may not be aware that there are several sites in our area conected to the templars
one at Elsham and one at Great limber
on the site of Elsham hall there once stood an Abbey reputed to be of the order of the knights Templars
and also Great Limber Grange was said to belong to them also…
Regards
Chris
Rod said,
August 6, 2009 @ 8:10 am
Callum,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site.
Let me know when the DVD is actually out and I’ll review it on post it on the site - it sounds potentially fascinating
Best of luck with it
Rod
Jan Eskildsen said,
September 1, 2009 @ 4:31 pm
Is the drawing of Temple Bruer made on the basis of new excavations, is it fantasy or how can you know it looked that way —- and how did it look inside, do you know?
best regards
Jan
Rod said,
September 1, 2009 @ 4:55 pm
Hi Jan,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site, hope you’ll return.
The drawing is a period artists impression based on the site plan revealed by the last archaeological dig I believe.
I didn’t go inside Jan - I presumed it to be locked although somebody has suggested it was open.
If so I shall return and photograph everything inside a sit’s extremely interesting
All the best
Rod