ROTHLEY COURT HOTEL AND CHAPEL OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS

The Rothley Court Hotel is on the Westfield Lane in Rothley with views over Rothley Park.
The hotel was formerly a mansion called The Temple and has an attached chapel. It is dated from the 13th century with 17th and 18th century additions. There are brickwork dates of 1742 and 1895. The garden front and wing are by John Ely of Manchester in 1894/5.
The building is of granite rubble stone, with a small part of red brick, with stone dressings, stone and brick and stone cornice and parapet in part, and Swithland slate roof with brick ridge and side stacks.

The hotel entrance front has a projecting gable either end, that to the right with stone buttresses. 2 1/2 storeys of eleven 6/6 sash windows. Five 2-light dormers, the central with rounded gable. 2-light casement in left gable attic. Probably 19th century central stone porch in Renaissance style with rounded arch, pilasters, entablature and battlements. Part glazed door inside.

Garden front to the left has projecting stack dated 1742 and the 1894/5 wing mullion and transom windows with leaded lights and with a 2-storey canted bay to the left and loggia with two bay arcade to the right. Rear has picturesque gables with sashes and attic casements.
Inside is an 18th century oak staircase and 17th and 18th century panelling, some with bolection moulding. Doorways with stone pointed arches in rooms next to the chapel.

The chapel, to the right of the entrance front was restored in 1896 and has east window facing. A single nave with two storey south corridor linking the house. Tall lancets with cusped heads, hood moulds and label stops. One to west and three either side to north and south. Large 3-light 15th century east window with shaft either side to half-way up.
Inside, the lancets have a roll-moulding round frame, and east window a moulded arch and shafts to sides. Piscina with cusped head and shaft either side. Roll-moulded sill band in part. On south wall fragment of painting with writing in medieval English script.
Restored four bay tie-beam truss double-purlin roof with double collars, curved braces and waved wind braces. Round vase font possibly 13th century, a small marble cartouche of the Babington Arms of possibly 17th century and three 18th century Babington Hatchments.
The south doorway has arch with hollow chamfer and the corridor a quadripartite rib vault. The restored doorway, facing east between the Hotel and Chapel, has a many-moulded arch with shaft either side.

This mansion was known as Rothley Temple. It was a Preceptory of the Knights Templar to whom the manor was given by Henry III. After their suppression it was given to the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem. At the Dissolution it became a private house and the seat of the Babington family. Lord Macaulay was born here on 25th October 1800.
The hotel and chapel are Grade I listed.

For more information, history and photographs please go to the Village History, Rothley Temple and Chapel of the Knights Templars