As an artist / creator I feel it is acceptable to create a reconstruction of this world which may not all be backed up by historic research. This will enable those who may be interested in the subject to better experience a likely and grounded description of a possible narrative.
This isn’t rigorous academic research it is an artist reconstructing a historical world. It aims to be reasonably representative and aiming for plausibility. The characters are all fictional — no claim of truth applies to them or their inner lives. The world they inhabit is a historical claim of differing confidence levels.
Looking for my sources? Scroll down the page for corrections
Approach
- Ahead of any creative work, I’ve read extensively and researched other sources describing what’s known of the Leeds preceptory and how the Templars operated in England more generally.
- In creative mode, either I will undertake further research into a specific element — drawing on available online sources that are documented and verifiable, listed on the project site or I will identify further research sources
- Once the creative phase is complete, I often go back and review. The aim here is to flag historical record versus invention, identifying confidence levels in the accuracy and linking known sources where they support a claim.
- At this time it doesn’t currently have an external validator checking the research or any indicated confidence in it – but the artist welcomes challenge on accuracy or assumptions.
- Any identified historical inaccuracies will be published in the table at the bottom of this page. I welcome challenge from anyone with knowledge of the era who has evidence or informed opinion to weigh against what I’ve produced.
- All content, including that which is AI-generated is treated as unverified until checked, not as a source of accuracy in itself. Multiple LLMs have been used for roles including research assistant and fact checker.
- All material created wholly by AI is labelled as such. Where AI is used to draft or refine material that is subsequently human edited will not be treated as ghost-writing.
Confidence levels used in this project:
- Documented — stated directly in a source – usually referenced.
- Reasoned — built by joining one or more documented sources with my own inference.
- Presumption — consistent with what’s known but without direct evidence. This is the assumed state for factual articles and content.
- Grounded fiction — assume narrative content to be this state unless described otherwise.
Implementation of this – Autumn 2026
Reference Sources
See https://joneland.co.uk/2025/08/26/sources-templars-of-newsam/
Corrections made
Where I have identified a change needed to something I had published I will record that here; along with some detail:
- Was Newsam ‘Templestowe’ as mentioned in Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe?
There’s often been discussion of Ivanhoe’s Templar house being that on Leeds’ boundaries. However there’s no definitive proof for either the Newsam (Leeds) and Hirst (Selby) claims to be Ivanhoe’s Templestowe – arguments often trace back to unsourced or thinly-sourced local tradition rather than anything in Scott’s own hand. I will concede that what is offered is stronger for Hirst.
(Comment references change to https://joneland.co.uk/projects/the-templars-in-leeds/ – reference changed to ‘possibly’ – made 10 Aug 2026)
Jon Eland 