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Helen Nicholson

Helen Nicholson

A former Head of the History Department at Cardiff University, I am a world-leading scholar in research into the military religious orders and the Crusades. I have very extensive experience in teaching students at all levels, and a strong record in impact and engagement with the wider public.

Latest posts

The Knight Templar were not an underground order

Posted on 9 March 2017 by Helen Nicholson

in any sense of the word: https://gawainsmum.wordpress.com/2017/03/09/everyone-loves-a-mystery/ But the Templars did have lots of lovely chapels above ground. Blog post coming up soon.

Cover and blurb

Posted on 21 February 2017 by Helen Nicholson

So here is the publisher's front cover for the book; and here is the blurb: The lives of the medieval Templars seem hidden and mysterious. Helen Nicholson reveals their everyday […]

The Everyday Life of the Templars: book submitted

Posted on 10 January 2017 by Helen Nicholson

I've now submitted the manuscript of the book of this blog, The Everyday Life of the Templars, to the publisher. Awaiting publishers' feedback! For those of you in the John Percival […]

The Everyday Life of the Templars: update

Posted on 20 July 2016 by Helen Nicholson

Some readers of this blog will know that the data from these pages will form a central part of my forthcoming book The Everyday Life of the Templars, contracted to […]

The Templars’ Scottish charters

Posted on 9 May 2016 by Helen Nicholson

The 1308 inventory of the Templars' house at East Cowton in Yorkshire mentions 'all the charters of the Temple of Scotland'. Photo by Nigel Nicholson. Whatever happened to the Templars' […]

Getting the text book

Posted on 6 May 2016 by Helen Nicholson

Among the books that the Templars had in London in 1308 was one which was the textbook on pastoral care.

The maths of the case

Posted on 22 April 2016 by Helen Nicholson

A little arithmetic suggests that there were far fewer Templars than might be thought: see my gawainsmum blog.

The further career of Brother Thomas Totty

The further career of Brother Thomas Totty

Posted on 11 March 2016 by Helen Nicholson

I have been blogging about this notorious Templar runaway on my gawainsmum blog. This record of the investigation into the debts owed to the Templars in Bedfordshire at Easter 1309 […]

Debts due to the Templars

Posted on 26 February 2016 by Helen Nicholson

At the end of December 1308 King Edward II's treasurer sent out writs to all the sheriffs in charge of the former Templar estates instructing them to find out what […]

Update: Walter le Baud’s accounts for the Templars’ estates in Herts. and Essex, January to February 1308

Posted on 23 February 2016 by Helen Nicholson

Walter le Baud year one Essex and Herts The fields around Temple Sutton, Essex. Photo: N2 Productions Update: I've transcribed Walter le Baud's accounts for the Templars' former lands in […]