Over the past few years, whilst living on Lundy, we have been working on a rennovation project in Portugal.

Many people know Lundy for its extraordinary wildlife, isolation and history, but there is also an unexpected connection between Lundy and the area in which we have bought a house in, Portugal.

The knight Templar connection

In 1160, King Henry II transferred the title of Lundy to the Knights Templar. At the time, the Templars were one of the great maritime and military orders in Europe, and the Crown hoped they would help secure the Bristol Channel against Norse and Irish sea raiders. History suggests it was never entirely successful on Lundy, largely because the de Marisco family were reluctant to relinquish their stronghold on the island.

Today, one reminder of that history remains in the form of Knight Templar Rock, standing on the east side of Lundy. A rock naturally shaped into the profile of a Knight Templar.

Now, our own path has led us towards another place deeply connected to the Templars.

Camino Portuguese

Our house is a rennovation project in Portugal, it sits on the Camino route from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela and lies close to Tomar — the town built by the Knights Templar, home to the Convent of Christ, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The house itself is very much a project.

Like anyone who has ever tried to renovate in Portugal will understand, progress is slow. our situation is proving no different. But despite the pace, things are moving in the right direction, and we are excited to be able to share the journey.

Next week we head back out to Portugal, where we hope to capture another video update and plan the next stage of work on the house.

For now, here is the first glimpse of what will become an important part of future plans.

You can see, there is a long way to go yet — which is exactly what makes it exciting, daunting and costly!!!

Please subscribe, let’s see how this life chapter develops.