Temple Newsam

Temple Newsam is one of the great historic homes of England.  It’s famous as the birthplace of Lord Darnley, husband of Mary Queen of Scots.  The Manor was owned by the Knights Templar in the 12^th Century, hence the name Temple.   In 1307 the Templars were suppressed and in 1377, by royal decree the estate reverted to Sir Philip Darcy (created 4^th Lord Darcy in 1362 and died in 1399).  In 1537 Thomas, Lord Darcy was executed for the part he played in the Pilgrimage of Grace and the property was seized by the Crown.  For 160 years the property was owned by the Darcy family.  Philip, Lord Darcy was my 19^th great grandfather which made the trip to Temple Newsam a truly memorable experience.

The History of Temple Newsam is depicted in a document hanging in the 2^nd floor hallway. The history shows the Darcy family period of ownership as part of the complete history of the property.  Also of special interest was a Darcy Family Crest that had been discovered hidden in a wall upstairs.  The entire house, including the art work and furnishings, is thoroughly documented throughout every room.  The pristine setting and views of the South garden are beautiful. When Sir Arthur Ingram bought the estate in 1622, it consisted of over 4,000 acres and was largely self-supporting.   Over time, parts of the property were sold for development.   In 1922, the Mansion and 917 acres of gardens and park land were sold to the City of Leeds, which has acted to secure the future of this historic place.