Torphichen Preceptory

Torphichen Preceptory is a church complex with a surviving tower and transepts built in Gothic style that dates to the late 1100s. The structure preserves its original stonework from that period and contains a burial ground with historical gravestones.

The complex was founded in the 1140s by King David I and served as the main Scottish headquarters for the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of St John. It held importance in the religious and military structure of medieval Scotland.

The burial ground displays gravestones from the 1600s and 1700s carved with symbols of mortality and emblems showing different trades and crafts of those buried there. These carvings tell stories about the work and lives of local people from that period.

The site is easy to walk through and its grounds are open for visitors to explore on foot. The standing stones and burial ground provide clear reference points for understanding the original scale of the complex.

William Wallace held his final meeting of barons here in 1298 before the Battle of Falkirk took place. King Edward I used the location to recover after this military campaign.

Location: West Lothian

Location: Torphichen

Architectural style: Gothic architecture

Website: https://historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/torphichen-preceptory

GPS coordinates: 55.93461,-3.65215

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:10