Ansty Hospitallers Preceptory |
Hob Uid: 210367 | |
Location : Wiltshire Ansty
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Grid Ref : ST9568026340 |
Summary : The farmhouse at Manor Farm possibly incorporates remains of a preceptory of Knights Hospitallers founded in circa 1220. Dissolved in 1540. There is documentary evidence that it had a garden, watermill and dovecote. It was used as a hospice after the dissolution, was badly burnt in 1927, and converted to an engineering workshop afterwards. |
More information : (ST 95592634) Manor Farm (NAT). (1)
The manor of Ansty was granted to the Knights Hospitallers in 1210-11 and a preceptory was established before 1220. A survey of 1338 mentions the manor-house, garden, dovecote and watermill. It was dissolved in 1540. The VCH states that the commandery was pulled down temp Elizabeth I but the guest house survived until 1927 when it was burnt out. Pevsner suggests that traces of the Preceptory may survive in the Manor farmhouse in a basemoulding on the south side and mullioned windows. Across the village pond is an early 16thc building probably the actual hospice of the preceptory. (2-4) The remains of the Preceptory and fishpond are visible in the grounds of Manor Farm, Ansty. The Hospice at ST 95682634 is now used as an engineering workshop. It was re-roofed after the fire of 1927 but still retains 15th-16th cent features. The east wing of the manor house is probably 16th cent and is centred at ST 95612635, but there is no external evidence of any earlier feature. Published survey 25" revised. (5) |