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Templars in the UK

• Message 1.Μύ

  Posted by spacelizards (U2490505) on Wednesday, 16th November 2005

  Can anyone suggest Templar-related sites in the UK that are open to the general public? There seem to be suprisingly few around. Any help greatly appreciated.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by (( sean )) Free Nordmann (U2053581) on Wednesday, 16th November 2005

  the obvious one:
  
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by arnaldalmaric (U1756653) on Wednesday, 16th November 2005

  Hi skymir,
  
  The following link should be of interest,
  
  
  
  and
  
  
  
  Cheers, good hunting, AA.

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• Message 4

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  Posted by Plancenoit (U1237957) on Wednesday, 16th November 2005

  Rosslyn is by far the best if you want to actually see something. It really is a sight to behold. But Templar related 'sites' are in fact quite numerous, Temple Guiting, Temple Power, TempleCombe, even Bristol Templemead. The Legal profession has it's 'Temples' which all have Templar connections. We're surrounded by it!! Of course, the places mentioned have a historical Templar connection in the sense that they were owned by the Templars, or their local interests i.e Hospital, School or 'Church' were strong enough for the settlement to bear the name. However, it may not be worth the travelling as there is very little, if anything, to actually see and most of the Templar related info will come from historical documents and maps. A particular favourite of mine is a small place called Nemphlar near Lanark in Scotland which was given to the Templars by Robert the Bruce in gratitude for their assistance in his struggle with the wicked(!) English who had followed the Popes lead and outlawed the Templars to seize their Lands and Wealth. The Bruce however, offered them sanctuary. Again, theres not much physical evidence above ground at Nemphlar, but there are a thousand and one stories of hidden mysteries to rival Rosslyn, although the place seems to have been largely ignored. You only have to check an old map of the area and the local names for certain areas will arouse your curiousity. Don't turn up with a metal detector and a spade, you'll get lynched!! There's a wealth of information on the net as has already been mentioned but some of it is quite contradictory. Get into the library or the local History/Archaeology society and start sorting through those dusty old books, You'll soon find yourself with a new and totally addictive hobby.
  All the best.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Plancenoit (U1237957) on Wednesday, 16th November 2005

  Just to add, if you do go to Nemphlar, please be aware that much of it is now private property and its best to ask permission before wandering, or else stick to the footpaths. Rosslyn is by far the best if you want to actually see something. It really is a sight to behold. But Templar related 'sites' are in fact quite numerous, Temple Guiting, Temple Power, TempleCombe, even Bristol Templemead. The Legal profession has it's 'Temples' which all have Templar connections. We're surrounded by it!! Of course, the places mentioned have a historical Templar connection in the sense that they were owned by the Templars, or their local interests i.e Hospital, School or 'Church' were strong enough for the settlement to bear the name. However, it may not be worth the travelling as there is very little, if anything, to actually see and most of the Templar related info will come from historical documents and maps. A particular favourite of mine is a small place called Nemphlar near Lanark in Scotland which was given to the Templars by Robert the Bruce in gratitude for their assistance in his struggle with the wicked(!) English who had followed the Popes lead and outlawed the Templars to seize their Lands and Wealth. The Bruce however, offered them sanctuary. Again, theres not much physical evidence above ground at Nemphlar, but there are a thousand and one stories of hidden mysteries to rival Rosslyn, although the place seems to have been largely ignored. You only have to check an old map of the area and the local names for certain areas will arouse your curiousity. Don't turn up with a metal detector and a spade, you'll get lynched!! There's a wealth of information on the net as has already been mentioned but some of it is quite contradictory. Get into the library or the local History/Archaeology society and start sorting through those dusty old books, You'll soon find yourself with a new and totally addictive hobby.
  All the best. Μύ

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Anglo-Norman (U1965016) on Wednesday, 16th November 2005

  Rosslyn is a huge red herring - nothing to do with the Templars at all, no matter how much pseudo-historians and Da Vinci Code go on about it.
  
  The best surviving church is probably Temple Church in London, the remains of their English HQ. Expanded by later generations, and much restored after it was bombed during WWII, but still a good starting place.
  
  I would suggets you beg, borrow or buy a copy of 'The Knights Templar in Britain' by Evelyn Lord, probably the best book on the subject available, which has a very comprehensive listing of Templar sites in the UK along with an analysis of their activities in the Country and some stuff that tries the sift the fact from the great mass of myth about the Order.

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• Message 7

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  Posted by (( sean )) Free Nordmann (U2053581) on Wednesday, 16th November 2005

  Rosslyn is a huge red herring - nothing to do with the Templars at all, no matter how much pseudo-historians and Da Vinci Code go on about it.
  Μύ
  
  good evening Anglo-Norman,
  
  could you expand on you're assertion a little for me...it isn't my area of interest or time period so i've not read much about the Templars (certainly none of that cod history) and i only know that Rosslyn exists atall because i used to live in Edinburgh.
  
  cheers

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• Message 8

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  Posted by Plancenoit (U1237957) on Wednesday, 16th November 2005

  Rosslyn was built around (1450?) by the St Clairs family, (Sinclair) after the Templars had been officially abolished by the Pope. The Templar movement continued in Scotland as it was one of the few places where they were allowed to practise their own form of worship unhindered. That Rosslyn has Templar roots is an established fact. It screams at you from every pillar and gargoyle, every arch and lintel. The fact that the area around the nearby castle, also St Clairs home, has given up many Templar artefacts and the place has more than its fair share of Templar burials, not to mention the fact that it is stated in many contemporary documents, St Clair himself was a Grand Master of the Priory.....well the evidence speaks for itself. Perhaps you have to see it to believe it. As Anglo-Norman says, there is a lot of rubbish which stems mainly from the Da Vinci code and similar stuff, of which there has been an abundance in recent years, but to say Rosslyn has got "nothing to do with the Templars at all" is a very bold statement, and could make you miss one of the most important sites there is. The obvious answer is to do a bit of research for yourself on the subject (not Da Vinci Code!), The Grand Priory of the Scottish Knights Templar are still in existence and are extremely proud of their history. It could be a good place to start. I believe they have a website, and I'm sure they would be willing to help.

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• Message 9

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  Posted by (( sean )) Free Nordmann (U2053581) on Wednesday, 16th November 2005

  cheers. Rosslyn is indeed something to behold.

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• Message 10

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  Posted by spacelizards (U2490505) on Thursday, 17th November 2005

  Thanks to everyone for their suggestions, I can't wait to start exploring some of the sites given here. Extra thanks to Anglo Norman for the book suggestion - I'm definitely going to grab a copy from somewhere. I heard there were some Templar tombs inside the Palace of Westminster, can anyone confirm or deny this?

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• Message 11

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  Posted by Anglo-Norman (U1965016) on Thursday, 17th November 2005

  Do you mean Westminster Abbey? I suppose it's possible that some were buried at the Palace (in the chapel, presumably), although unlikely. In any case, the graves would have been destroyed when the Palace was rebuilt. Not sure about the Abbey - possibly one or two Confreres (associate brothers, serving for a fixed period usually as a penance - done by Beckett's murderers, for example).

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