BALSALL - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"BALSALL, (or Balsall Temple), a chapelry in the parish of Hampton-in-Arden, hundred of Hemlingford, in the county of Warwick, 8 miles to the S.W. of Coventry. Birmingham is its post town. The manor belonged in the reign of Stephen to Roger de Mowbray, and was given by him to the Knights Templars, who made it a preceptory of their order. It passed subsequently to the Knights Hospitallers, and in 1565 to Dudley, Earl of Leicester.

A century later it was held by Lady Katherine Leveson, who founded a hospital here for twenty poor women, and endowed it with the manor of Balsall. There are now thirty inmates, and the annual income is about £1,500. The living is a perpetual curacy* of the value of £50 (which is paid out of the hospital endowment), in the diocese of Worcester, and in the gift of the governors of the hospital. The chapel is dedicated to St. Mary. It was erected originally by the Templars, and has been thoroughly repaired since 1820. There are some remains of a hall of the Templars at Balsall Grange.

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]