The Knights Templar owned a quantity of land in Yorkshire, including a preceptory at Copmanthorpe just outside York. Within the city they leased an spur of land south of York Castle, bounded by the rivers Ouse and Foss. On it were a number of mills, a dwelling and garden, three plots and a chapel. Following the Templar’s suppression, the land and chapel passed to the crown and was used for archery practice by locals. In 1382 the chapel passed to the Guild of St George. The site of the chapel, now demolished and used as a car park, is on the line of the York Ley.
The Order of the Temple of Solomon was founded in 1120 to provide safe passage for pilgrims through the Holy Land. Members of this military order were a unique combination of chaste monk and fighting knight. The order grew rapidly through endowments and patronage, owning land across Europe and the Middle East, and a sizeable navy. Money-lending became a key activity, and was ultimately their downfall. King Philip IV of France, heavily in debt to the Templars, supported accusations of heresy against them. In 1307 French Templars were rounded up and tortured, though few confessed. The English trial began in 1309 and proceedings against York’s templars took place in 1310, after the Sheriff of Yorkshire received the king’s writ to arrest the Templars within the county.
Twenty-five Templars were placed in custody at York Castle. Allegations against them included the wearing of a cross next to the anus, their denial of Christ and God and spitting on the cross, turning away from the altar, which bore a filthy crucifix, and veneration of a calf-like idol. Most of these claims were likely false. The York Templars were eventually absolved, and sent to other monasteries. But the Templars did supposedly venerate something known as ‘Baphomet’. Theories of its identity include the head of Christ, Muhammad, and a gnostic deity.
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