Kirkstall and the Knights Templar

Kirkstall was one of twenty-four Yorkshire houses to receive a former Templar who had confessed and been absolved. The newcomer did not, however, remain long at Kirkstall, for the following year it was reported that he had been allowed to escape; the Vicar General ordered his recovery but the outcome is unknown.
[G. Barnes, Kirkstall Abbey 1147-1539: an Historical Study, Publications of the Thoresby Soc. 58 (Leeds, 1984), p. 75.]

For further discussion of the Templar’s trial, see The Register of William Greenfield, Lord Archbishop of York 1306-1315, ed. W. Brown and A. H. Thompson, 5 vols (1931-40), IV, p. 364; for Kirkstall’s negligence at allowing the Templar to escape and the unpopularity of having such visitors to stay, see Register Greenfield V p. xxxix; ibid. no. 2354 (pp. 1-5).
Rievaulx refused to receive a Templar; the Templar who stayed at Fountains was said to be unruly and insolent – presumably it was for this reason that the monks of Kirkstall were happy enough to relax their guard and allow their ‘guest’ to escape.

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