Temple Dinsley - an overview
Temple Dinsley circa 1885
A brief history of Temple Dinsley 1100 - 1900
The estate of Dinsley was given to the Knights Templar in the twelfth century AD. They were a group
of wealthy warrior monks dedicated to keeping the highways of the Holy Land safe for pilgrims. The
Knights built a preceptory on the site - Temple Dinsley. This was a cross between a monastery and a
manor. It became their most important estate in south-eastern England. They were succeeded by the
Knights Hospitalier.
Later, in 1542, the manor was granted to Sir Ralph Sadleir - a servant of Henry VIII.
In the sixteenth century, Temple Dinsley was sold to Benedict Ithell. On his death, it passed to his
sisters, one of whom bequeathed the estate to her steward, Thomas Harwood. The Hertfordshire
Militia List s provide striking evidence of Thomas’ social elevation. From 1758-65 he is described as a
servant, gentleman’s servant, and even, labourer. Then, from 1768-73, he is Thomas Harwood -
Esquire!
When Thomas died in 1786, he left Temple Dinsley to a young nephew, Joseph Darton. In turn,
Joseph was succeeded by his son, Thomas Harwood Darton.
Residents of Temple Dinsley 1800 - 1900
Joseph Darton - he let the house to tenants
Henry Crabb (1795-1830)
Thomas Halsey
Thomas Harwood Darton (1812-1858)
Maria Elizabeth Darton - (wife of above died 1869)
John Weeks (retired builder d.1879)
Henry Brand (magistrate and MP)
1800
1830
1841
1851
1861
1871
1881
The sale of Temple Dinsley in 1873
When the estate of Temple Dinsley came onto the market in 1873, the sale particulars provided a
wonderful description of the estate and its various parts (even allowing for the agent’s enthusiasm).
Illustrating the way in which Temple Dinsley dominated Preston is the statement that for sale was
‘nearly the entire village...about forty cottages and The Chequers Inn public house’. The estate
occupied 560 acres of ‘very fertile land’ nearly all of which was freehold and tithe free.
The estate included three farms:
Temple Farm (in the grounds of Temple Dinsley)
Poynders End Farm (90 acres)
Austage End Farm (41 acres)
These farms together with the mansion provided employment for many of the villagers.
The house was described as a ‘fine, old mansion’. It had a spacious hall, drawing room, billiard room,
dining room, morning room, study and gun room on the ground floor - all of which were centrally
heated (in 1873). On the next floor were seven bedrooms, three dressing rooms, a bathroom and two
toilets. The roof space was occupied by six attics.
Attached to the house was a large pavilion, a butler’s pantry, a kitchen, dairy, laundry and wash
rooms. The outbuildings included stables (above which was an eight-day turret clock with four faces,
shown above), two carriage houses, a mushroom house and a small homestead.
The ‘Temple Clock’ (as it was known ) regulated the lives of the villagers. During the Preston Hill
robbery case of 1864 there were no less than three references to the clock, which helped to establish
time frames. From these comments, we learn that the clock could be seen from Preston Green - ‘It
was about five minutes to nine by the Temple Clock’ - and that it could be heard at the bottom of
Preston Hill. The clock was destroyed by fire in 1888.
Notes on hunting and shooting
When the sale of Temple Dinsley was advertised, its agricultural potential was not promoted - it was a
time of depression. The selling point was the opportunity for field sports such as the hunting and
shooting of foxes, pheasants,partridges, rabbits and hares. ‘It is in a favourite hunting district....the
sporting capabilities are of a high character and afford excellent partridge and pheasant shooting’.
This emphasis on hunting explains in part why the woods around Preston survived. While there was
some revenue from the sale of rights to coppice trees, the woods were mainly preserved as the haunt
of wild-life which could be hunted.
Major Pryor of Clifton, Beds. purchases Temple Dinsley in 1873
Temple Dinsley was sold to Major Henry Pryor of Clifton, Beds. His sons, Ralston de Vins (RDV) and
Geoffrey Pryor (GIE) were later involved in the running of the estate and collecting rents.
According to the 1871 census, Major Pryor’s household at Clifton included a visitor, William H. Darton,
who was born at Kings Walden, Herts. Henry Pryor (31) and William (28) were serving as Captain and
Lieutenant in the 7th Bedfordshire regiment. Two years later, Henry had purchased Temple Dinsley
from William’s father, Captain Thomas Darton.
Extensions and alterations to Temple Dinsley 1908 - 1909
In 1908-09, the renowned architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens was commissioned by a later owner, Herbert
Fenwick, to remodel and enlarge the house and then add further extensions in 1911. The challenge
was to ‘maintain with pious care the ancient fabric’ and not dominate the old house with the extensive
alterations. This work was largely financed by Herbert’s wife, Violet.
The Cottage aka The Dower House
The Cottage was built on the north-east side of the estate, near to the Hitchin road. It was
occasionally inhabited by the owners and relatives of Temple Dinsley. Later it was known as ‘The
Dower House’.
Links to main articles re: Temple Dinsley
Temple Dinsley - an overview
The changing face of Temple Dinsley 1541 - 1907
Eighty-six views of Temple Dinsley 1907-1989
The gardens of Temple Dinsley
The rose garden of Temple Dinsley
The owners
The Ithell family of Temple Dinsley
Thomas Harwood Servant and Esquire
The Darton family Part 1
The Darton family Part 2
The Pryor family 1874 - 1901
J Barrington-White 1901 - 1908
The Fenwick family 1908 - 1918
Douglas Vickers 1918 - 1923
Almina - Countess of Carnarvon
Princess Helena College 1935 - 2021
The tenants
Thomas Halsey 1840 - 1844
John Weeks 1869 - 1879
Frederick MacMillan 1891 - 1901
The Cottage/Dower House