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Temple Balsall is a remote village in the middle of the old
Forest of Arden, southeast of Solihull. The name Balsall comes from an
Anglo-Saxon word meaning 'watery pastures'. (1)
It was spelled 'Belesale' in the 1185 survey, and was gifted
to the Templars in 1146 by Roger de Mowbray, a major patron who also went on
three crusades himself, having been captured by the Turks on his last, when he
was over 65! (The Templars ransomed him; he died soon after this and was buried
in Palestine.)
Temple Balsall had become a Preceptory by 1226, and was the
major headquarters for other Templar lands in Warwickshire- namely, those of
Cubbinton, Harbury, Tysoe, Wolvey, Studley, Warwick, Chilver-scoton,
Sherbourne, Fletchamstead, Temple Herdewicke and others. It was quite a large
complex, with domestic buildings listed at their arrest being the Hall, the
Preceptor's room built onto it, a pantry, buttery, kitchen, larder, bakehouse,
brewhouse and a dovehouse with 80 doves. Part of the old hall still stands
today, hidden behind the 18th c. brick. (2)
Day to day activities at the Preceptory involved many
farming activities. It is known that there were nineteen full-time labourers
there, who weren't actual members of the Order, on the home farm at the
Preceptory. There were also two foresters, a dairyman, a miller, a studherd, a
lad to make the 'pottage' for the labourers, as well as the usual ploughmen and
stockmen. Three chaplains, with a deacon to serve them, said daily Mass in the
chapel and there were six pensioners who had board and lodging there in return
for faithful service to the Order. There were also a number of peacocks and
swans, adding to the scene!
Temple Balsall also seems to have been a favourite place for
the reception of new members into the Order. "These were important occasions.
The Master of the Temple and other high officials would come from London, and
Preceptors from Hereford, Oxford, and Gloucester. The initiations took place in
the Balsall Preceptor's room, followed by a service in the chapel." (3)
By 1312, the time of the Pope's edict against the Templars,
the lands of Temple Balsall had gone to the Knights Hospitaller. Few records
have survived of their time of possession.
The surviving Old Hall we can now see at Temple Balsall has
an 18th century exterior, but the internal timbers are original, dated around
1180. The spacious building next door - St. Mary's Church - was the last church
that the Templars built in England, and was restored in 1849 by George Gilbert
Scott; it became a parish church in 1863. A panel in the stained glass east
window shows a Templar Knight in armour and mantle, keeping watch over today's
congregation. (fig 3) |
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Probably one of the most important historical figures
connected with Temple Balsall was that of Thomas de Walkington, Preceptor of
Rothley Temple, Leicestershire, who was acting as Preceptor for Temple Balsall
at the time of the suppression (1307-8). At this time, five Templars were
arrested at Balsall, who were then joined by de Walkington in custody. But de
Walkington's name is certainly worth honouring in English Templar history, "for
he was the sole English Templar who dared to say that the few confessions of
the Templars had only been extracted by torture.
But, unfortunately, his immense courage was to no avail; the
Templars were held in prison for over three years and some were tortured.
Nothing was proven against them, but their spirit was broken and they had to
plead to the Church for mercy. They were taken to St. Paul's Cathedral for a
grand ceremony of reconciliation." (4) The Order was then entirely suppressed
in England and the Brothers scattered to different monasteries to do penance
for their supposed crimes. |
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In 'Traces of the Templars', George Tull mentions two other
Templar sites affiliated with the Templar Balsall Preceptory; these are Temple
Manor and Temple Bellwood. Temple Manor, Warwick:
Roger, Earl of Warwick, granted a small manor beyond the
bridge on the south side of the town to the Templars. "This became one of a
group of Warwickshire manors contributory to Temple Balsall. A chantry chapel
existed in the manor. In 1308 a chaplain received an annual stipend of £3
out of the income of the manor, for Mass to be offered for the Earl's ancestors
and descendants, in return for the lands given by his ancestors to the
Templars." (5) Temple Bellwood:
Little more than a mile from the Lincolnshire village of
Belton is "an estate known as Temple Bellwood, which belonged to this
preceptory. Some remains of their house are built into a farmhouse in the
grounds". (6) Temple Grafton, Warwickshire:
Little is available at this time about this site; more
information would be greatly appreciated. |
