The Knights Templar in Grimsby Lincolnshire
I am very keen to acquire as much information as possible about any possible connection to, or the activities of, the Knights Templar in and around Lincolnshire especially Grimsby, Little Coates, Great Coates and Healing etc
This is also related to my original post about a Monastery at Grimsby Golf Course
I specially went for a walk tonight, at 19.00 hrs, in order to take a few pictures for this post- I do hope you appreciate it 
I have hit a brick wall, though sadly not an ancient one, in respect of finding out exactly what the missing building, church, priory or monastery on the land currently occupied by The Grimsby Golf Course.
Recently there was an intriguing mention of The Templar Knights on the outskirts of Grimsby - this area is/was the outskirts of Grimsby. Because the knights Templar where virtually wiped from the face of the earth, including I believe many buildings and most of their records, it could explain why I can find no documentary evidence of what was once there.
The current church across the road from the site in question
These pictures are taken from the area just behind my house, the River being the River Freshney.
The Golf Course - site of the mystery building
If you have any information that may be of interest or even remotely connected be it about the missing building or the Templars activity in the area please do leave a comment. Be it factual, documentary or anecdotal.
The History of The Knights Templar in Grimsby
The Grey Friars of Grimsby were established around 1240 and paid rent to the Templar knights up until 1305
I have also found this:
c 1250 Alan le Aumener (also called Alan of Bassingburn) granted the Knights Templar land in Grimsby to the value of £4.15s 0 1/2d p.a. By virtue of this grant they claimed a right to hold a court in the borough, to have the burgesses grind their corn exclusively at their windmill.
[later edit]
The Grey Friars of Grimsby:
paid a rent for their land to the Knights Templars till 1305, when they were relieved from this obligation by the generosity of Robert le Eyr of Grimsby.
So we know they were in and around the area
One last bonus picture of the church near Toot Hill
[Update] Check out the possibility of a Knight Templar Preceptory in Grimsby
If you can shed any light on any of this please do leave a comment, or indeed if you have anything at all to say about the subject.
Also please check out this article I wrote earlier also this one old maps of Grimsby wanted
And indeed Toote Hill or Toothill
All the best
Rod
Little Brother said,
April 8, 2009 @ 9:00 pm
Rod,
Very interesting post. I live close to one of the best known Templar sites in the country; Temple Bruer. The whole area around my village was renowned as a settlement for the knights and there are still monuments standing to verify this.
There is far more to the county than is given credit for.
LB
Rod said,
April 9, 2009 @ 7:33 am
LB,
Temple Bruer is something that I can’t seem to get away from in my research !
I would like to take a trip there at some point and check it out.
Rod
A Retired Bookdealer said,
April 9, 2009 @ 12:09 pm
Interesting reading,
A missing building - but did it ever exist at all ?.
There could be numerous reasons for the remains of a building to be found on the site,
Was the building a temporary structure ?
an early place of worship later to be replaced by a stone built building ?
as the building of these places took years,
there would be a need for a temporary structure on or near the site.
Also there is water nearby, how old is the river ?
what work has been done on the river ?
is the river or was part of a more elaborate drainage system ?
as we all know many drains and rivers have been made or
altered in Lincolnshire over past few hundred years.
Again if such work was being done, there would be a need for temporary building / buildings.
Rod said,
April 9, 2009 @ 12:19 pm
ARB
Welcome Back !
I am told there are very substanial remains of a building and the stonework I have suggests quite a ‘high status’ one - check out the stonework on the links in the post.
The river is mentioned in records way back and would certainly be contemporaneous - in fact looking at the surrounding area an ideal spot for a monatery or such like.
Cheers
Rod
A Retired Bookdealer said,
April 9, 2009 @ 12:38 pm
Hi Rod,
If there was a monastery or other religious building on the site,
would the records of such a building have been kept locally or
somewhere such as Lincoln - Lincoln Cathedral perhaps ?.
All the best,
ARB
Rod said,
April 9, 2009 @ 1:33 pm
ARB
there are archives at Lincoln but local religious buildings are so well documented and go into such incredible detail it scarcely seems possible that an entire building of the magnitude suggested by the stonework I have could have existed and not be mentioned in documents I’ve already seen.
Something was there though - question is what ?
Rod
A Retired Bookdealer said,
April 9, 2009 @ 7:10 pm
Rod,
I have had a look at the stonework.
I wonder if there are any records of a quarry in the area or close by ?,
would be interesting to know where materials for such a building
could be obtained at the time.
ARB
Sam said,
February 18, 2010 @ 9:03 am
Hi there …. I dont know if this is anything to do with anything that you have been talking about but i have recently purchased a book called “Foul deeds and suspicious Deaths in Grimsby and Cleethorpes”. While reading this i came across a section about Templar Knights and i thought it strange as i thought that they were years old. ( i am only 24yrs old myself so do not know much about them).
In the book it says something about a Walter de la Lindes of Little Cotes. He took of hold of a port and people stood up to him who were then sent to Laceby. Walter’s men stole goods and refused to pay taxes.
(Quote from the book) ” The Abbot of Wellow blocked a road and the Knights Templars, who were powerful fuedal magnates in the town, damned a stream and cut off fresh water for ordinary folk.
Crown property had been taken by force, and by private individuals. Something had to be done, and before a new corporation charter could be given, a bailiffs’ court was instituted to try to set things right. Any further escalation of these open quarrels and abuses would have led to violence and murder. In 1259, an investigation led to a provision that merchants had to sell their goods within markets esablished by tradition and common goodwill. It was meant to protect the civil liberties of the weaker or less wealthy town burgesses. Through all these terrible events there were private injuries and open quarrels, as one writer has put it. This is a way of explaining the kind of resentment and aggression that leads to the worst kind of civil unrest and riot.
These kinds of violent and brutal events, happening with a background in which the powerful customarily took by force what they wanted, reminds us today that in the centuries before an established police force, the general pattern of legal and moral obligations could easily slip into the arnarchy of clannish vendetta and a ‘might is right’ frame of mind. One effect of all this was that the Knights Templars in the town were soon dissolved soon after this turbulent period. It is the mark of the power of the burgesses and landed aristocrats such as the de Lindes that this could be achieved’.
Not sure if this has anything to do with what you had found but it does say that Knights Templars had dammed a stream and cut off water.
Rod said,
February 18, 2010 @ 6:53 pm
Sam,
thanks for the wonderful comment and welcome to the site.
It does indeed have something to do with the post and is a great reference, I’ve not seen that book before.
I’m going to look into Walter de la Lindes of Little Cotes straight away.
Thanks again Sam for a great and useful comment
All the best
Rod
A- said,
November 10, 2010 @ 10:26 am
Hi Rod, I’ve just read what you’ve posted and I find it all very interesting.
I am only 17 years old but I am very intrigued, and wondered if you had any further informtation on this.
I’m currently working on a joint history/photography project of buildings around my town, Grimsby, and I have chosen to do religious buildings, so upon finding this, I feel it is perfect.
Would you be able to tell me it’s exact whereabouts, I would be most pleased, as this is a great photographic oppurtunity which would be a shame to miss out on.
Thankyou; much appreciated!
Rod said,
November 10, 2010 @ 7:19 pm
A-,
thanks ofr the comment and welcome to the site.
Sadly all the information is on this page I’m afraid, there’s nothing left standing to visit.
The history of St James is probably your best bet in town if you need pictures, we’ve covered all the old churches and religious houses in the area a selection can be seen below A-
Wellow Abbey
St James Church
St Mary’s Church
Hope this helps a little A
All the best
Rod