395 



NOTE 



ON SOME 



RECENT DISCOVERIES IN SELBORNE CHURCH, 



AND 



THEIR BEARING ON THE HISTORY OF THE SUDINGTON 

 PRECEPTORY OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. 



SOME very interesting discoveries have been made in Selborno 

 Church in the course of its restoration, which has taken place 

 during the progress of the second volume of this work 

 through the press. These, while generally confirming the 

 views which I ventured to express in a note at p. 287 of the 

 first volume*, have thrown new light upon the history of 

 some parts of the building, and particularly as affording 

 important illustrations of the relation which existed between 

 the parish church and the Knights Templars of Southington 

 (Sudington) Preceptory. 



The introduction of this celebrated military order into 

 England took place early in the reign of Stephen, about the 

 middle of the twelfth century. On their establishment in 

 London, their first home was in the district of Oldbourne (the 

 site of the present Southampton Buildings), which, in the 

 reign of Henry II., was exchanged for the piece of ground to 

 which the name of the order has become permanently at- 

 tached, and which constituted the headquarters of the order 

 in England until its dissolution. It is not necessary here to 



* I must here correct a mistake which I made in the note referred to. 

 I stated that there is no piscina in the chancel or the nave. On removing 

 the wainscot, however, which had for ages covered this part of the wall, a 

 good piscina of the early English style was exposed, which had been 

 entirely concealed. 



