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TEMPLAR LOCATIONS IN THE UK

TEMPLAR KNIGHT HISTORY - HISTORY OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS

The Knights Templars were present in many locations around the United Kingdom. Wherever they were settled, the Templars possessed vast privileges and immunities, which were conceded to them by popes, kings, and princes.

There were in bygone times the following preceptories of Knight Templars in the present kingdom of England.

Aslakeby, Temple Bruere, Egle, Malteby, Mere, Wilketon, and Witham, in Lincolnshire.

North Feriby, Temple Hurst, Temple Newsom, Pafflete, Flaxflete, and Ribstane, in Yorkshire.

Temple Cumbe in Somersetshire.

Ewell, Strode and Swingfield, near Dover, in Kent.

Hadescoe, in Norfolk.

Balsall and Warwick in Warwickshire.

Temple Rothley, in Leicestershire.

Wilburgham Magna, Daney, and Dokesworth, in Cambridgeshire.

Halston, in Shropshire.

Temple Dynnesley, in Hertfordshire.

Temple Cressing and Sutton, in Essex.

Saddlescomb and Chapelay, in Sussex.

Schepeley, in Surrey.

Temple Cowley, Sandford, Bistelesham, and Chalesey, in Oxfordshire.

Temple Rockley, in Wiltshire.

Upleden and Garwy, in Herefordshire.

South Badeisley, Selbourne, Fordingbridge in Hampshire.

Getinges, Temple Laugherne in Worcestershire.

Giselingham and Dunwich, in Suffolk

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There were also several smaller administrations established, for the management of the farms and lands, and the collection of rent and tithes.

Among these were Liddele and Quiely in the diocese of Chichester; Eken in the diocese of Lincoln; Adingdon, Wesdall, Aupledina, Cotona,

The different preceptors of the Temple in England had under their management lands and property in every county of the realm.

In Leicestershire the Templars possessed the town and the soke of Rotheley; the manors of Rolle, Babbegrave, Gaddesby, Stonesby, and Melton; Rothely wood, near Leicester; the villages of Beaumont, Baresby, Dalby, North and South Mardefeld, Saxby, Stonesby, and Waldon, with land in above eighty others! They had also the churches of Rotheley, Babbegrave, and Rolle; and the chapels of Gaddesby, Grimston, Wartnaby, Cawdwell, and Wykeham.

In Hertfordshire they possessed the town and forest of Broxbourne, the manor of Chelsin Templars, (Chelsin Templariorum,) and the manors of Laugenok, Broxbourne, Letchworth, and Temple Dynnesley; demesne lands at Stanho, Preston, Charlton, Walden, Hiche, Chelles, Levecamp, and Benigho; the church of Broxbourne, two watermills, and a lock on the river Lea: also property at Hichen, Pyrton, Ickilford, Offeley Magna, Offeley Parva, Walden Regis, Furnivale, Ipolitz, Wandsmyll. Watton, Therleton, Weston, Gravele, Wilien, Leccheworth, Baldock, Datheworth, Russenden, Codpeth, Sumershale, Buntynford, and the church of Weston.

In the county of Essex they had the manors of Temple Cressynge, Temple Roydon, Temple Sutton, Odewell, Chingelford, Lideleye, Quarsing, Berwick, and Witham; the church of Roydon, and houses, lands, and farms, both at Roydon, at Rivenhall, and in the parishes of Prittlewall and Great and Little Sutton; an old mansion-house and chapel at Sutton, and an estate called Finchinfelde in the hundred of Hinckford.

In Lincolnshire the Templars possessed the manors of La Bruere, Roston, Kirkeby, Brauncewell, Carleton, Akele, with the soke of Lynderby, Aslakeby, and the churches of Bruere, Asheby, Akele, Aslakeby, Donington, Ele, Swinderby, Skarle,

There were upwards of thirty churches in the county which made annual payments to the order of the Temple, and about forty windmills. The order likewise received rents in respect of lands at Bracebrig, Brancetone, Scapwic, Timberland, Weleburne, Diringhton, and a hundred other places; and some of the land in the county was charged with the annual payment of sums of money towards the keeping of the lights eternally burning on the altars of the Temple church. William Lord of Asheby gave to the Templars the perpetual advowson of the church of Asheby in Lincolnshire, and they in return agreed to find him a priest to sing for ever twice a week in his chapel of St. Margaret.

In Yorkshire the Templars possessed the manors of Temple Werreby, Flaxflete, Etton, South Cave, the churches of Whitcherche, Kelintune, &c.; numerous windmills and lands and rents at Nehus, Skelture, Pennel, and more than sixty other places besides.

In Warwickshire they possessed the manors of Barston, Shirburne, Balshale, Wolfhey, Cherlecote, Herbebure, Stodleye, Fechehampstead, Cobington, Tysho and Warwick; lands at Chelverscoton, Herdwicke, Morton, Warwick, Hetherburn, Chesterton, Aven, Derset, Stodley, Napton, and more than thirty other places, the several donors whereof are specified in Dugdale’s history of Warwickshire  also the churches of Sireburne, Cardinton, and more than thirteen windmills. In 12 Hen. II., William Earl of Warwick built a new church for them at Warwick.

In Kent they had the manors of Lilleston, Hechewayton, Saunford, Sutton, Dartford, Halgel, Ewell, Cocklescomb, Strode, Swinkfield Mennes, West Greenwich, and the manor of Lydden, which now belongs to the archbishop of Canterbury; the advowsons of the churches of West Greenwich and Kingeswode juxta Waltham; extensive tracts of land in Romney marsh, and farms and assize rents in all parts of the county.

In Sussex they had the manors of Saddlescomb and Shipley; lands and tenements at Compton and other places; and the advowsons of the churches of Shipley, Wodmancote, and Luschwyke.

In Surrey they had the manor farm of Temple Elfand or Elfante, and an estate at Merrow in the hundred of Woking. In Gloucestershire, the manors of Lower Dowdeswell, Pegsworth, Amford, Nishange, and five others which belonged to them wholly or in part, the church of Down Ammey, and lands in Framton, Temple Guting, and Little Rissington. In Worcestershire, the manor of Templars Lawern, and lands in Flavel, Temple Broughton, and Hanbury.

In Northamptonshire, the manors of Asheby, Thorp, Watervill, they had the advowson of the church of the manor of Hardwicke in Orlington hundred, and we find that “Robert Saunford, Master of the soldiery of the Temple in England,” presented to it in the year 1238.

In Nottinghamshire, the Templars possessed the church of Marnham, lands and rents at Gretton and North Carleton; in Westmoreland, the manor of Temple Sowerby; in the Isle of Wight, the manor of Uggeton, and lands in Kerne. But it would be tedious further to continue with a dry detail of ancient names and places; sufficient has been said to give an idea of the enormous wealth of the order in this country, where it is known to have possessed some hundreds of manors, the advowson or right of presentation to churches innumerable, and thousands of acres of arable land, pasture, and woodland, besides villages, farm-houses, mills, and tithes, rights of common, of fishing, of cutting wood in forests,

There were also several preceptories in Scotland and Ireland, which were dependent on the Temple at London

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TEMPLARS IN THE UK

The Knights Templar in the United Kingdom were part of the broader international Templar Order, but several key figures and individuals played significant roles in its operations in the region. These figures were instrumental in shaping the influence of the order within England, Scotland, and Wales during its active years.

Key Figures of the Knights Templar in the United Kingdom

1. Hugues de Payens

  • Role: First Grand Master of the Knights Templar (1119–1136).

  • Connection to the UK:

    • During his tenure, Hugues traveled to England to secure support for the fledgling order.

    • He was instrumental in securing patronage from King Henry I and prominent English nobles, laying the groundwork for the Templars' expansion in Britain.

2. King Henry II

  • Role: Monarch of England (1154–1189).

  • Connection to the Templars:

    • A major supporter of the Knights Templar, Henry II granted them lands, wealth, and privileges, helping to establish their influence in England.

    • He allowed the Templars to use London as a central hub, which eventually became the famous Temple Church.

3. Aymeric de St. Maur (or St. Maurus)

  • Role: Master of the Knights Templar in England (1215-19)).

  • Achievements:

    • Played a significant role in managing Templar properties and estates in England.

    • Expanded the Templars' influence by securing land grants and maintaining good relations with English nobility and the Crown.

    • Likely oversaw the construction of key sites, such as Temple Church in London.

4. Robert de Craon

  • Role: Grand Master of the Knights Templar (1136–1149).

  • Connection to the UK:

    • During his leadership, the Templars solidified their presence in England and Scotland.

    • Oversaw the establishment of preceptories like Temple Bruer in Lincolnshire.

5. William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke

  • Role: English nobleman and regent for King Henry III.

  • Connection to the Templars:

    • A significant supporter of the Knights Templar and closely associated with them.

    • On his deathbed in 1219, William Marshal was invested as a Templar, reflecting his admiration for the order.

    • He was buried in Temple Church, London, a testament to his ties with the Templars.

6. King John of England

  • Role: Monarch of England (1199–1216).

  • Connection to the Templars:

    • Relied on the Templars for financial and logistical support during his reign.

    • Involved them in key moments such as the negotiations around the Magna Carta in 1215, where Temple Church in London played a role as a meeting site.

7. Richard de Hastings

  • Role: Master of the Knights Templar in England (1155-1185).

  • Achievements:

    • Strengthened the order’s administrative structure in England.

    • Likely involved in establishing several preceptories, including those in Essex and Lincolnshire.

8. Alexander II of Scotland

  • Role: King of Scotland (1214–1249).

  • Connection to the Templars:

    • Provided protection and privileges to the Templars operating in Scotland.

    • Granted lands and properties to the order, including the establishment of sites like Balantrodoch Preceptory (now Temple, Midlothian).

9. Roger de Mowbray

  • Influential Crusader - and great admirer of the Knights Templar. Present at the battle of the standards in 1138 and gifted Temple Balsall to the Templars -

  • Gifted lands to the Templars also in Yorkshire & Lincoln

  • Went on Three Crusades - & on the last (aged 65) was captured and a randsom paid by the Templars, which went against their strict rules, which highlighted their respect for him as a crusader and Brother.

  • Died in Palastine in 1189 and buried there

  • For further information on Roger Mowbray Check out our full blog page here

The Temple in London, a central hub for the Knights Templar in England, was under the authority of regional masters responsible for overseeing the order's operations in the region. These Masters of the Temple played vital roles in administering the Templars' vast estates, managing financial and military affairs, and maintaining the order's close ties with the English Crown and nobility.

The Below is a non exhaustive list of the recorded Grand Masters of the Temple London

  • Rocelin de Fosse - 1252 to 1259

  • Amadeus de Morestello - 1254 to 1259

  • Robert de Sandford - 1259

  • Humbert de Pairaud - 1267 to 1269

  • William de Beaulieu - 1274

  • Robert de Torteville - 1276

  • Robert Turvile - 1277 to 1289

  • Guy de Foresta - 1290 to 1294

  • Jaques de Molay - 1297

  • Brian de Jay - 1298 - Killed Battle of Falkirk 1298

  • William de la More - 1298 to 1307

  • Philip Gregory,

  • John Kendall - Knight Hospitaller 1489-1501

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