Torphichen Preceptory

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Torphichen Preceptory
Aerial view of the plant

When Torphichen Preceptory it was the only Coming of the Order of Malta in Scotland . The church is essentially still preserved from the former monastery complex. This is located on the northeastern edge of the village of Torphichen in the Council Area West Lothian and was included in the Scottish monument list in 1971 in the highest monument category A. In addition, both the entire complex and a stone in the associated cemetery are classified as a Scheduled Monument .

history

The Scottish King David I left the lands to the Order of Malta in the 12th century. Construction of the monastery complex began in the same century. Only fragments of the buildings have survived today, which reflect the dimensions of the extensive complex. The construction of the church building, which has largely been preserved, began in the 13th century, but continued into the 15th century. The transept and parts of the main nave of the Gothic church were later integrated into the parish church of Torpichen, which is still in use today. It is not clear whether a choir previously existed.

As part of the Reformation , the last Preceptor of Torphichen, James Sandilands , handed over the commandery and the associated lands to the Scottish Crown on January 23, 1564, and received them back as a secular fiefdom, as well as the hereditary title of Lord Torphichen .

Individual evidence

  1. a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. a b Scheduled Monument - entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  3. Scheduled Monument - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  4. Entry on Torphichen Preceptory  in Canmore, the database of Historic Environment Scotland (English)

Web links

Commons : Torphichen Preceptory  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 55 ° 56 '4.8 "  N , 3 ° 39" 7.2 "  W.