~{nilheadimage~=143211~}
When you read about the ~{purplepost~=1367~;text~=Knights Hospitaller~;target~=hospitallers~}, as I have been doing recently, you inevitably also become aware of their brother order, the ~{link~= https://www.lincolnshirelife.co.uk/heritage/looming-large-in-lincolnshire-temple-bruer-and-the-knights-templar/ ~;text~=Knights Templar~;target~=templars~}, aka the Order of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon. Created in 1118, during the time of the Crusades, this order of military monks financed its activities through income generated by the "preceptories" (estates) it maintained all over Europe.

The Templars held several such preceptories in Lincolnshire, including Temple Bruer (established in the mid-12th century). Not far from Newark, this site boasts a rare example of a Templar structure that's still standing.

The Templars have a fascinating story, even if you discard the large amount of mythologizing that has attached itself to them. According to ~{link~= https://www.lincolnshirelife.co.uk/heritage/looming-large-in-lincolnshire-temple-bruer-and-the-knights-templar/ ~;text~=Eric Bryan~;target~=templars~}: "Throughout Europe, all Templar preceptories were allowed to function almost as small, independent states, free of the laws and taxes of their host countries. This enabled estates such as Temple Bruer to flourish and amass great wealth. The [papal] bull [of Pope Innocent II] also allowed the Templars to cross with impunity the borders of any country which recognised the order, and to receive all spoils from conquests of Muslim forces or lands." And when the Crusades were over, the Templars turned to banking...

Their riches created resentment, however, and at the end of 1307, Philip IV of France persuaded Pope Clement to issue a papal bull obliging all Christian European rulers to arrest members of the order, and seize their holdings. Many French Templars met horrible ends. In England, however, they were treated with somewhat less vitriol: "Relatively few members of the order were actually taken into custody. Of these, many were reconciled with the Church, and some were allowed to make a sort of sideways move and join the Knights Hospitaller."

Whatever the local details, the Templars were no more. The order was suppressed by Pope Clement V in 1312.

Ownership of Temple Bruer passed to the Hospitallers, who administered the estate until the 1530s, when they, in turn, were wiped out by Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries.

This ~{link~= https://www.alltrails.com/trail/england/lincolnshire/temple-bruer-and-the-knights-templar-walk ~;text~=excellent circular walk~;target~=walk~} not only introduces you to a handsome and historic tower, but also gives you a good feel for the Lincolnshire countryside.

~{nilimage~=143204~;dir~=V~;alt~=stjohn~;caption~=The walk starts and ends at ~{link~= https://www.graffoechurches.co.uk/index.php/our-churches/temple-bruer ~;text~=St John the Baptist, Temple Bruer~;target~=stjohnbaptist~}, built in 1873~}
~{nilimage~=143186~;dir~=H~;alt~=churchfromafar~}
~{nilimage~=143187~;dir~=H~;alt~=drystonewall~}
It was a nippy day, and we were glad of the arrival of the sun. Here's our main objective (built about 1200, and originally one of a pair):

~{nilimage~=143205~;dir~=V~;alt~=tower1~;caption~=Views of the Templars' tower in the changing morning light~}
~{nilimage~=143206~;dir~=V~;alt~=tower2~}
~{nilimage~=143208~;dir~=V~;alt~=tower3~}
~{nilimage~=143209~;dir~=V~;alt~=tower4~}
~{nilimage~=143210~;dir~=V~;alt~=tower5~}
~{nilimage~=143180~;dir~=H~;alt~=surrounds1~;caption~=The surrounding domain~}
~{nilimage~=143207~;dir~=H~;alt~=surrounds2~}
The tracks on this route are in pretty good nick. Muddy but doable (as good as it gets at the moment). And there's plenty that's of interest on the way:

~{nilimage~=143181~;dir~=H~;alt~=sunrise~;caption~=Beautiful countryside~}
~{nilimage~=143182~;dir~=H~;alt~=path~}
~{nilimage~=143185~;dir~=H~;alt~=ruts~}
~{nilimage~=143183~;dir~=H~;alt~=house1~;caption~=Admirable dwellings~}
~{nilimage~=143184~;dir~=H~;alt~=house2~}
~{nilimage~=143212~;dir~=H~;alt~=gin~;caption~=The remains of a horse gin~}
~{nilimage~=143213~;dir~=H~;alt~=pillbox~;caption~=The remains of a pillbox~}
~{nilimage~=143214~;dir~=H~;alt~=erminestreet~;caption~=A section of the route follows the course of the old Roman road known as Ermine Street~}
A great little expedition.