Wm of Hastings

William of Hastings (steward to Henry II) granted meadowland (marsh) near the river Lea on the West Ham boundary to the Knights Templar Order to build two wooden water mills. Temple Mills was established in the 11^th century to mill crops, such as beans, wheat, oats and barley. The Temple Mills were used mainly for grinding from their extensive lands in Homerton and the marsh land of the River Lea. Other water mills were developed in the areas of Hackney and West Ham, one dated approx 1185 on meadow by St. Mary Hope in Leyton. Their water mill on Leyton land was dated 1278.

Seal of the Templars

After the dissolution of the Order, ownership of the mill passed to the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, Clerkenwell (known as the ‘Knights Hospitaller’). The Order of St. John was also dissolved in 1540 when all monastic lands were seized during the reformation and passed to the Crown.

The Order St John was revived in Queen Mary's reign and their former lands and liberties in Leyton restored in 1558, but the Knight’s possessions were again annexed to the Crown after Elizabeth ascended the throne. The area was used for the building of the 2012 Olympic site, we are not aware of any finds from this period.