Hide

The Temple (ex. par.)

hide
Hide

"TEMPLE, THE, is a number of buildings, quadrangles, courts, &c., used as chambers for barristers, &c. . . It is divided into two parts, the Inner and Middle Temple, which are occupied and governed by two societies. It derives its name from having been anciently the residence of the Knights Templars, a society established about the year 1118. The Knights Templars let their residence, in 1324, to the students of the Common Law, in whose possession the Temple has been ever since. It extends from White Friars nearly to Essex-street, and has two halls, two libraries, a fine church, very airy gardens on the bank of the Thames, and several spacious quadrangles. Its present officers are, the Rev. Charles Benson, M.A., Master; the Rev. William Henry Rowlatt, M.A., Reader and Librarian; Sir Alexander Croke, Knt., Treasurer of the Inner Temple; James Gardener, Esq., Sub-Treasurer; John Gurney, Esq., Treasurer of the Middle Temple; William Eldred, Esq., Sub-Treasurer; Thomas Quayle, Master of the Library; and John Bray, Library Keeper. . . TEMMPLE CHURCH, THE, is a very ancient church, built by the Knights Templars, and recently very handsomely restored by Mr. Smirke. It escaped the fire of London. . . The present master is the Rev. Christopher Benson, M. A., who was appointed in 1826." [J. Elmes, A Topographical Dictionary of London and its Environs (1831) - transcribed by Brian Randell]

Hide

This place is located in Farringdon Without Ward.

Hide
topup

Church History

The Temple's Website.

topup

Church Records

Online Parish Register Images and Indexes for The Temple (ex. par.) are provided by, or at various subscription sites via, the FamilySearch wiki.

topup

Description & Travel

Wikipedia page on The Temple.

 

You can see pictures of The Temple (ex. par.) which are provided by:

topup

Gazetteers

topup

History

Magna Carta, William Marshal and the Road to the Rule of Law: The Temple from the Temple website.

Temple Church, Inns of Court, &c. in Knight's Cyclopedia of London.

The Inner Temple Library website provides an extensive well-illustrated history of the Temple.

In Search of Shakespeare's London, by Joseph Mercer - contains photographs and a description of "the magnificent Middle Temple Hall where the first performance of "Twelfth Night" took place in 1602, with Shakespeare playing in the acting company".

The Calendars of Inner Temple Records 1505 to 1845 are available online via the Inner Temple website.

Addison, C. G. The history of the Knights Templars, the Temple Church, and the Temple. London : Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans (1842) 395 pp. [Full text]
topup

Maps

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference TQ312810 (Lat/Lon: 51.512323, -0.11055), The Temple (ex. par.) which are provided by: