A survey of the documents relating to the South Witham preceptory has shown that the land at South Witham was acquired by the Templars between 1137 and 1185 Excavations on the known site of the Templars' preceptory at South Witham began in 1965 in response to a ploughing threat. The work was organised and financed by the then Ministry of Public Buildings and Works, Ancient Monuments Division. Attention was directed mainly towards the identifiable series of Buildings 1-19, and in particular to the complex of the hall, chapel and kitchen ranges, which appeared to form the main hub of the site. As excavated, the earliest phase of the site consisted only of an aisled hall (Building 15), two small ancillary buildings (Buildings 13 and 14) and a watermill (Building 19). The development of the site through three major phases, these are explained in detail.