Rothley Temple

Rothley Temple, or more correctly Rothley Preceptory, was a preceptory located in the village of Rothley, Leicestershire, associated with both the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller.The preceptory's chapel, constructed by the Knights Templar, is currently part of the Rothley Court Hotel.HistoryFoundationRothley Preceptory was established around the year 1231; however, records show the "The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon" owned land at Rothley as early as the reign of King John . On the establishment of the preceptory King Henry III granted the Knights Templar the manor and church at Rothley. The preceptory would come to own land in 13 neighbouring villages, including granges used for farming at Baggrave and Gaddesby. The knights of the preceptory also owned the Manor at Gaddesby.Around 1250, the preceptory was recorded as having a yearly revenue of £62. 10s. 5d., which was used to help fellow Knights Templar in Acre, in modern-day Israel.In 1284, King Edward I granted the preceptory's knights a charter, permitting them to hold a weekly market, on a Monday, at Rothley, and an annual fair in honour of Saint Barnabas each June. This lasted until 1306, when King Edward issued the knights with another charter permitting them to hold a market and festival at their manor at Gaddesby, instead of at Rothley. This charter afforded a weekly market on a Wednesday and an annual festival in July in honour of Mary Magdalen.