TEMPLE GRAFTON: A HOSPITALLER LEGACY — NOT TEMPLAR

Despite its name, Temple Grafton was never home to the Knights Templar. The “Temple” prefix is a misnomer, born from a clerical error in 1535. The true medieval legacy of this Warwickshire village belongs instead to the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem — a powerful military and religious order dedicated to caring for the sick and defending the Christian faith.

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JUNE 2025

Warwickshire may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about the Knights Templar, but the county hides a fascinating network of medieval Templar sites—including the small yet significant settlement of Temple Herdewyke, whose name alone echoes its historical roots.

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Temple Herdewyke: A Modest Yet Meaningful Templar Outpost

Though not a major preceptory or manor, Temple Herdewyke played a quiet but notable role in the Templars’ presence in Warwickshire. The lands were donated around the mid-12th century by Ralph de Sudeley, a local knight and crusader. Upon returning from the Holy Land, de Sudeley endowed the Templars with around 120 acres of arable land near Burton Dassett, with the intention of establishing a rural preceptory and training ground.

Learn More about the Ralph de Sudeley and the Knights Templar in Temple Herdewyke in Warwickshire further by clicking here

HAMPTON IN ARDEN

Roger Mowbray: Crusader, Templar Benefactor, and the Mystery of the Knight’s Heart Tomb

Roger Mowbray, born in 1118, was a nobleman deeply connected to the Knights Templar, shaped by his own experiences as a crusader. 

A Devoted Benefactor of the Monastic Orders

Mowbray’s deep religious devotion is evident in the generous gifts he bestowed upon various religious institutions.

Mowbray’s final resting place remains a subject of historical debate. While Byland Abbey holds an effigy believed to be in his honor, another intriguing possibility lies at the Church of St. Mary & St. Bartholomew in Hampton-in-Arden.

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