So, I’m at that point where long term project/s need work (both Along the Calls and a new project of Gen-X Queer portraits) so, what do I do, but take on a ‘small’ side project.
This came about because I’ve started attending meetings of the Leeds Stitch and Textile Group (relating to the Embroiderers Guild); I was so taken by their warm welcome that I took up the offer to create a piece they are doing for Temple Newsam to support their community outreach.
Given the Along the Calls work was already looking at medieval embroidery (a piece thinking about the Norman Conquest) – I thought, what harm can it do to also do a piece about the Knight’s Templar.
Well… I’ve been down a few rabbit holes with it so far – reading a relatively limited set of articles on the Internet (many of which conflict) and trying to understand enough about the context to identify a general direction for the piece.
What I have so far is – Newsam (‘New houses’) was pretty much gutted in the harrying of the North (value dropped by 90% between 1066 and 1086) but, by ~1155CE, it had gained enough to be a valuable donation from Henry De Lacy to the Templars. They grew it and it was renowned to have over 1000 sheep but also a number of properties and lands donated to it (who knew I’d find the Bonhams website so interesting?)
I’m aware that exacting archeology about their presence is limited (lots of conflicting stories) but we know there was a ‘preceptory’ in the area and successful agriculture. We also know that the Knights didn’t have to pay taxes (nor did anyone under their protection pending validation) which led to buildings with Templar crosses on them – to identify that household as protected/exempt. The Packhorse on Briggate still has one. I ended up down a rabbit hole last night trying to identify why displaying these crosses would continue hundreds of years after they were disbanded (1312)
But, back to when the Knights were around – Temple Newsam would essentially be a farm; run from the Templar’s Preceptory. My knowledge is early days – but these were essentially mini-monasteries focused on work more than prayer (though there would have been a chapel) and with a fair number of lay people.
My understanding thus far is that this farm would have been set up as a way to raise funds for the Knights doing what they did elsewhere. There would be a priest leading it (a preceptor).
There is a known site away from the current Jacobean mansion, beyond the motorway (much closer to the River Aire – which makes sense) – and digs in the early and late twentieth century unearthed buildings which are attributed to the Templars (including stone coffins). Pending further research.
Dan Brown aside I think the Templar story is very interesting – growing quickly to run an early form of banking and creating a network of communities that were enough to trouble the kings of England and France.
The story I hope to tell will give a small insight of what the Templars did (may have done) here in the Leeds area – or may end up being an explanation why their crosses stayed on buildings quite so long after they were disbanded.
I’m again using a mix of internet research, accessing written sources and AI to help me better understand the context I’m dealing with. So please take any ‘truth’ you hear me speak here under advisement. I’m hoping my recent joining of the Thoresby Society (with access to The Leeds Library), Leeds Civic Trust and Leeds Libraries will help with this.
I’ll share more as this project develops.
Jon Eland 