Knight's Templar Fortress Lock with Large Key and Steel Gate Hinge Pins, Set of 5

Details

Description

Working lock with large key and steel gate hinge pins.
from Knights Templar “Commanderie” Barbican gate.


This large and impressive … Read more Working lock with large key and steel gate hinge pins.
from Knights Templar “Commanderie” Barbican gate.


This large and impressive gate lock and key along with gate hinge pins was rescued from a Templar Knights “Commanderie” Fortress.
In 1990 the “Commanderie” in the South West of France was being converted into a restaurant and having a major face lift on the rest of the fortress.

During the renovation a pair of nail studded, wooden Barbican gates were removed along with locks and hinges, they were transported to a local landfill site for disposal, the gates themselves being completely rotten and beyond restoration.
They are one of a kind.

The history of this 12th century complex is quite incredible, it was the seat of a Knights Templar “Commanderie”.
The Templars were all powerful in this region until the fateful Friday the 13th in 1307.
King Philippe IV disbanded the Templars from this date onwards.

The Commanderie was eventually handed over to the Order of the Knights Hospitallers of St John. In the late 14th century it was in turn handed over once again to the Knights of Malta. They carried out extensive alterations and renovations in the 15th and 16th centuries.
After the French revolution in 1789 the complex became a private property.

with many different owners over the ages, it cannot be guaranteed that these two pieces date back to the actual Templar period of the 13th Century but they are still very old incredible medieval conversation pieces with a nice story.

Details:

Lock and keep, length 10” (25.5cm) width 6” (15cm)
depth 1.5” (3.2cm)
Weight: 3.1kg
Key length 8” (20.2cm)
Iron hinge pins, length 6” (15cm) dia. 1.4” (3.5cm)
Weight: 1.4Kg See less