Many of you will be familiar with such local place names as Knights Templars Way and the Templars School. The Knights Templars had strong links in this area, being landowners for much of this time, including a large swathe of land at Westwood Heath. How did this come about?
Background
In previous posts, we have looked at the establishment of the lay Cistercians at Bockendon Grange, the farm linked to Stoneleigh Abbey. The arrival of the Knights Templars was in many ways a natural progression, they also being part of the Cistercian Order (White Monks and White Knights!). The Knights Templars had arrived in the area at roughly the same time as their Cistercian brethren, having acquired a hermitage – comprising a dwelling and a chapel – in Fletchamstead, probably around the site of Finham II School. They secured more land in the area and by 1185 were making a good income from rents on the land, success that continued for many years.
"Westwoode"
In 1293, an arrangement was made by which the Templars gave up their rights of pasturage in the manor of Stoneleigh in return by the monks of 200 acres of waste land in Westwood. There is also evidence to suggest that the Grand Master of the Knights Templars assented to a right of way from Berkswell to Stoneleigh across “the waste of Westwoode”. Probably this road became Westwood Heath Road (though with much less traffic!).
Moving on
When the Order of the Knights Templars was suppressed in 1311, their military function ceased but their social, medical and religious aspects continued as the Knights Hospitallers. This function was transferred to Temple
and the Fathers of Stoneleigh took back the land at Westwood.
If you would like to read more about the Knights Templars at Westwood, visit
More general information about the Order can be found at
If you want a more in-depth read, I can highly recommend Dan Jones’ brilliant book “The Templars: The Rise & Fall of God’s Holy Warriors” (Apollo, 2017).
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