Temple Newsam Preceptory facts for kids

Temple Newsam Preceptory was a special farm run by the Knights Templar, a famous group of medieval knights. It was located just east of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. A "preceptory" was like a main base or a large farm for the Templars, where they lived and worked.

What Was Temple Newsam Preceptory?

Temple Newsam Preceptory was a large farmstead that belonged to the Knights Templar. These knights were a powerful Christian military order during the Middle Ages. They were known for their role in the Crusades and for managing large estates across Europe. The preceptory at Temple Newsam was mainly used for farming, especially raising sheep.

Where Was It Located?

The site of the Templar farm was south of where Temple Newsam House stands today. It was between Pontefract Lane and the River Aire. On older maps (before 1991), you might find it marked as Temple Thorpe Farm. Today, it's very close to junction 45 of the M1 motorway.

What Happened to the Site?

Sadly, any old buildings or remains from the Templar farm are now gone. They were destroyed by a type of mining called "open-cast mining." This is where minerals are dug up from the surface of the ground.

What Did Archaeologists Find?

Even though the site is gone, archaeologists did find some interesting things before it was destroyed.

• In 1903, people found human bones and stone coffins. They also thought they found a chapel, which is a small church.
• Later, in 1989-1991, another team of archaeologists looked for the chapel again. They couldn't find it, and thought it might be buried under a large pile of industrial waste.
• However, they did discover the remains of a very large barn. It was about 50.5 by 13 metres (166 by 43 ft) (about 166 feet by 43 feet).
• They also found what might have been a dovecote (a building for pigeons) and some old pits. Part of a moat, which is a ditch filled with water, was also found.

History of the Templar Farm

The Knights Templar took control of the Temple Newsam site before the year 1181. They owned the land for over 120 years. However, they lost it shortly after their order was officially ended in 1307.

What Was Its Main Purpose?

The main job of the Temple Newsam Preceptory was raising sheep. This meant they produced a lot of wool. Wool was a very important product in the Middle Ages. It was used to make clothes and other textiles. The wool from Temple Newsam might have been sent down the River Aire to Hull. Hull was a port city used by another religious group called the Cistercians. From there, the wool could be exported to other places.

The preceptory also took care of the local church at Whitkirk. This church is about a mile north-east of the current Temple Newsam House.

When Did It Stop Being Used?

The part of the site that archaeologists dug up seems to have fallen apart by 1347. Around that time, a stream called Colton Beck was moved to flow through the old dovecote. This might have been done to power a mill, which suggests that some activity continued in the area, possibly closer to the river.