Keele Preceptory

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox monastery | name = Keele Preceptory | image = | alt = | caption = | full = | order = [[Knights Templar]] | established = 1223 | disestablished = 1538 | mother = | dedication = | diocese = | churches = | founder = | abbot = | prior = | people = | location = [[Keele]], [[Staffordshire]], [[England]] | map_type = | coord = {{coord|53|00|00|N|2|16|13|W|display=title, inline}} | oscoor = | remains = | public_access = | other_info = }} '''Keele Preceptory''' was a [[preceptor]]y (the headquarters of the order within a given geographical area), in [[Keele]], [[Staffordshire]], [[England]]. Owned by the [[Knights Templar]] until their suppression in the early 14th century, it then passed through a number of owners before falling into the hands of the [[Knights Hospitaller]].

==History==

===Foundation=== The estate was granted to the [[Knights Templar]] sometime between 1168-69 by [[Henry II of England|King Henry II]]. The grant was further increased by Henry in 1185 with gifts of land in [[Onneley]], near [[Madeley, Staffordshire|Madeley]], worth some 2 shillings.<ref name="UK History">{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=37856 |title=House of Knights Templar: The preceptory of Keele |author=M W Greenslade, R B Pugh (Editors), G C Baugh, L W Cowie, J C Dickinson, A P Duggan, A K B Evans, R H Evans, Una C Hannam, P Heath, D A Johnston, Professor Hilda Johnstone, Ann J Kettle, J L Kirby, R Mansfield, Professor A Saltman |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |date=1970 |work=A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3 |accessdate=9 September 2014 }}</ref> The estate became a preceptory sometime in the 13th century and by 1308 they were collecting rents from property held in [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]], Onneley, Stanton, and [[Nantwich]].<ref name="UK History"/>

===Suppression=== In 1307, [[Pope Clement V]] issued the [[papal bull]] ''[[Pastoralis Praeeminentiae]]'' calling on all European monarchs to arrest members of the Templar order.<ref name="Martin">{{cite book | last = Martin | first = Sean | title = The Knights Templar: The History & Myths of the Legendary Military Order | publisher = Thunder's Mouth Press | location = New York | year = 2005 | isbn = 1-56025-645-1 | authorlink = Sean Martin (writer and director) | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/knightstemplarhi00mart }}</ref> In response, [[The Crown|the English Crown]] seized the order's property, including that belonging to Keele Preceptory. The land was first claimed by [[Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster]], in his capacity as lord of Newcastle-under-Lyme. Following his execution in 1322, it reverted to the Crown and was granted to the Knights Hospitaller in 1342, who combined it with their [[Commandry (feudalism)|commandry]] in Halston, [[Shropshire]].<ref name="UK History"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Monasteries in Staffordshire]]