The Traces of the Templars

The Knights Templar were one of the most significant institutions of Medieval England. A powerful band of warrior-monks who owned vast tracts of land and were instrumental in the Crusades. Their rise to power and wealth was followed by ruthless suppression, amidst allegations of heresy and black magic; their lands were sequestered and their buildings were demolished, leaving only traces of their former presence in the English landscape today. In this book, author George Tull presents a full examination of all the actual remains today of the various properties established by the Knights Templar in England. Armed with this guide, the general researcher can see exactly what remains on the ground and relate it to its place in the history of the order.

Review :
Northern Echo Thursday, October 26, 2000 Warrior Monks who swore by the sword TRACES OF THE TEMPLARS by George F. Tull (The Kings England Press, GBP9.95) THE medieval counterparts of those fundamentalist religious leaders sometimes pictured with a Kalashnikov in one hand and the Koran in the other, the Knights Templars were warrior monks who believed in imposing Christianity by the sword. They hacked their way through the Crusades, the Holy Wars. No doubt sincere when they were formed in the 12th Century, they became arguably the most corrupt of monastic orders. The power that brought them vast wealth of money and land led to their suppression by the Pope in 1314-two centuries before Henry VIII dismantled the abbeys of now better known monastic orders. In lull's view, "we have no reason to be critical of the Templars" -chiefly because "it is not possible for us to know all the facts concerning them." He points out that the first Templars were "practical, single-minded men who banded together to protect Christian pilgrims". He argues that to fulfil this role, "they had to develop resources: hence the need for country estates. It seems that quite often the Templars managed to acquire the best and most fertile regions, suited for their use for which they can hardly be blamed" The former extent of the Templars' property and influence is mirrored in the many place names that include "temple" - like Temple Newsam, Leeds, and Temple Mead, Bristol. London's two "Temple" churches - Old and New -hark back to the Templars. Aided by a good selection of photographs, drawing and diagrams lull principally presents a most valuable county by county gazetteer of places associated with this now largely forgotten order. In Yorkshire, their northern limit, these include one of the best surviving Templar ruins - the foundations of a chapel on the slopes of Penhill at WestWitton, Wensleydale. But lull also explains lesser-known links with Westerdale, Cowton, Copmanthorpe, Ribston, near Wetherby, and other places. 'The vast expanse of the Yorkshire moors afforded fine training grounds for recruits before they embarked for active service in the east," he notes. At least that legacy of the Templars, echoing that of the Romans before them, is still going on. Templars book The Temple Church features in a new book by City Churches expert George Tull who has completed his seven years research into the Knights Templar. In Traces of the Templars (The King's England Press GBP9.95) the author concedes that there is still much that is mysterious about the order of monk-knights who existed for just under 200 years from 1118. Their mission was to protect the Holy Land's places of pilgrimage. The name is derived from their headquarters on the Temple site in Jerusalem. The 'traces' in Britain are found all over the country where there are such names as Templecombe in Somerset, Temple Island in the River Thames, Temple Mills on the River Lea and Temple Fortune in Hendon. In the City there is the Temple Church where the Master of the Temple was Provincial over a network of Preceptories. The round Temple Church was consecrated in 1181 by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. One of its treasures was the sword used to kill St Thomas of Canterbury just a decade earlier. The nearby St Clement Danes churchyard served as the knights' tiltyard. This is an unusual story incomplete only because so many records were destroyed not by Henry VIII or Cromwell but by Wat Tyler in 1381. George Tull, who remains puzzled by the tombs in the round church, says: "The object of my book is simply to present in readable form as much information as can be found about the Templars in England" Young Archaeologist Traces of the Templars The Knights Temper were a band of warrior monks who fought in the crusades between the 11th and 13th centuries. The crusades were expeditions to the Holy Lands to wage war against the Muslims and win control of Jerusalem. The Knights Templar became very powerful and wealthy but due to allegations of black magic and heresy their lands were confiscated and their buildings demolished. This well researched books looks at the archaeological remains of these buildings in England and puts them in a historical context This is a detailed book - more suitable for the older YAC member.