Dr Helen J. Nicholson is Reader in History at Cardiff University. She is an expert in the history of the Knights Templar and Hospitaller in the middle ages, and has published extensively on these military religious orders. She is currently completing an edition of the trial proceedings against the Templars in the British Isles, 1308-1311.

This talk will give a general survey of the trial of the Templars, concentrating on the trial outside France. In 1307 the Templars were still active in the eastern Mediterranean and western Europe, trying to organise a new crusade to reconquer the Holy Land. But a new crusade needed the support of Christian kings and nobles, who had seen so many past crusades fail. This talk will consider the various options which faced the kings of England, Cyprus and the Iberian and Italian peninsulas and ask why they eventually allowed the Order of the Temple to be dissolved, even when they clearly believed the brothers to be innocent of the charges brought against them by King Philip IV of France.

Yuri Leitch lives in Glastonbury, Somerset, where he works as an Artist. He also spends many of his hours with his head stuck in dusty old books and has for over twenty years been a passionate reader of British History, Celtic Folklore and a broad spectrum of the world’s ancient mythologies. For many years Yuri has written essays and articles, for various publications on a range of topics. His knowledge grows as he researches and encompasses the stories of the ancient deities, his own Holy Grail investigations and related esoteric matters. For information on 'Gwyn' Yuri's first book, click here 

The Cygnus constellation, otherwise known as the Northern Cross, has been known recognized as significant by humanity for at least 17,000 years. It was seen universally in association with the transmigration of the soul into the after life, as well as the source of cosmic life and death. Its symbolism has permeated through religions worldwide, and is reflected in the orientations and design of ancient and sacred monuments, from India to North America, Europe to Africa. Everywhere from the Pyramids of Giza to Newgrange in Ireland, the Olmec cities of Mexico and the stone circles of Europe, all reflect the influence of this constellation. In addition to this it is at the root of Christianity’s use of both the Christian Cross of Calvary as a symbol of resurrection, and also the talking head cult so popular among the Knights Templar. Andrew Collins, the author of several books that challenge the way we see the past, including THE CYGNUS MYSTERY and FROM THE ASHES OF ANGELS, will speak about this fascinating subject.

Paul Broadhurst is one of the most original writers and researchers of recent times. His books break new ground in the fields of Earth Mysteries and Mythology, demonstrating how knowledge of a science of natural energies was codified into legends directly related to sacred sites and their potential for spiritual transformation. He is best known for the acknowledged classics ‘The Sun and the Serpent’ and ‘The Dance of the Dragon’, chronicling the discoveries made during many years travelling along the St Michael Lines of Britain, Europe and the Middle East. He is also an inspirational speaker, and this talk, illustrated with many evocative slides, will focus on the true story behind the myth of St George as a primeval God of the Earth and the science of the Dragon energies inherent in Nature, as expounded in his latest book ‘The Green Man and the Dragon’.

Royston Cave, listed Grade 1, is a unique, small man-made bottle-shaped underground cavern, some 30 feet high and 18 feet in diameter. Presumed to be two- storeyed, it is cut out of middle-horizon chalk. It was discovered in 1742, purely by accident, close to the site where the ancient Icknield Way crosses the Roman Ermine Street. The Cave was filled with "garden mould". When it was emptied the walls were found to be covered with engravings of saints, Crucifixion scenes, all coloured. These included various signs and symbols but not necessarily Christian.

Over the years several theories as to its age and function have been discussed. After 25 years of research, the speaker has come to the conclusion that the Cave was at one time probably used by the Knights Templar Crusading Order (1118 -1308). The upper storey for storing market goods obtained from farms belonging to the Order based around their own created town of Baldock,  9 miles away: and the lower decorated area, as a small oratory.

One remarkable feature sets this town apart from any other place in Britain and indeed the world, as far as is known, and that feature is the Royston Cave. It could be argued that to  describe it as a Cave is not entirely accurate but no-one has yet found a better name for it; it is not a natural cave in the geological sense and yet it is underground. Its original function and by whom it was created is still open to debate. Doubtless, this structure has been used for many different purposes throughout the centuries, - but - its most intriguing aspect by far is its interior which is decorated with carvings sculpted from the chalk walls. These range in content from the pagan to the religious, thus posing the most tantalising questions as to its origins and its uses.

The presentation will look at the design and orientation of ancient temples across the Middle East, with particular emphasis on Egypt and the Holy Land, using slides and graphic material. The evidence of archaeology and historical record will be compared with descriptions from Biblical, Dead Sea Scrolls, and Masonic sources. Essentially a central place of worship and social interaction, temples were often also the guardians of treasure and holy relics, as well as witnesses to mysterious religious rituals.   

The factual history of the Knights Templar in Europe and the Holy Land. Their origins and the belief system of the inner circle with a delineation of their veneration of the Black Madonna and the propagation of the Grail Sagas.. Their commercial and military achievements. The arrests, interrogation and fate of the order.

Tim will today be launching his new book: 'The Knights of the Holy Grail, the Secret History of the Knights Templar'

Caroline Wise worked closely with The Ley Hunter periodical and The Dragon Project in the 1970’s, was a founder member of ASSAP (in the 1980’s); organiser of many Earth Mysteries and goddess conferences, and a leading member of the Fellowship of Isis. She has worked with, researched, written about and taught of the goddesses for many years, showing their
relevance to life today. She lives in London where she is sells esoteric books, is a tarot reader, runs The Goddess Group, and does voluntary healing for animals.
She is a member of the Typhonian O.T.O.

Caroline came across the elusive goddess Elen of the Ways in the early 1980s and has been on a voyage of discovery with her since. Elen has many aspects, from her Palaeolithic guise as horned goddess of the reindeer tracks, to Goddess of the Leys. Here, with a talk illustrated with beautiful slides, we will explore her role as surveyor of the sacred land, Grail Bearer, Lady Sovereignty and Green Lady. She becomes entwined with the figure of Saint
Helena, who finds the Cross of the Cross at Golgotha,
and the site of the Holy Sepulchre, where the round
church erected there, becomes the model for the
Templar round churches. St Helena's discoveries lead,
over the centuries,  to vast numbers making the
pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the Templars being charged
with their protection.

Caroline has lectured on Elen in London, Frankfurt, Los Angeles and San Francisco, but never in Bristol, a city, incidentally, sacred to the goddess Bride!

Geraldine Beskin has a lifelong interest in Western Esotericism. She and her daughter Bali Beskin, run London's Atlantis Bookshop. The Golden Dawn is as old as their premises and many of its members were, and are customers. The history of the Golden Dawn is a fascinating one and it has maintained its status for the last 118 years with a large number of biographies having been written about its luminaries. The Women of the Golden Dawn were crucial to its success, their lives were radically different to the presumed lives of their contemporaries and we owe them all, in their individual ways a great debt.

Robert L. D. Cooper is the Curator of the Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland (see: www.grandlodgescotland.com) and has held that position since 1994. In that capacity he is the custodian of the oldest Masonic documents in the world (the Schaw Statutes and the Minute Books of Lodge Aitcheson’s Haven) as well as documents relating to the St. Clair’s of Rosslyn. Robert has written extensively on these and related subjects (see below) and has recently returned from a three month round-the-world lecture tour which took him to South Africa, India, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. He lectures widely at home and abroad – to Masonic Lodges as well as at public venues. He is a member of various Masonic Lodges across the world and is a member of numerous Masonic bodies including: The Supreme Council of Scotland, The Royal Order of Scotland, The Grand Imperial Council of Scotland, The Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland and The Great Priory of Scotland. Robert is a full member of the oldest Masonic Lodge of Research in the world – Quatuor Coronati Lodge, No. 2076 (London, England) and the Scottish Rite Research Society (Washington DC). 

Robert’s presentation: ‘Freemasonry, the Knights Templar and Rosslyn Chapel’ will do so from a unique perspective – that of Scottish Freemasonry. Many authors who comment on Freemasonry and associated subjects are not Freemasons and so do not have an ‘insiders’ perspective. Even the few authors who are Freemasons none are Scottish Freemasons and that means that their perspective is distorted by an ignorance of Scottish Masonic history and culture which is quite different in numerous ways from Freemasonry as practiced in other countries such as England. 

Robert Cooper has published a variety of material including: 

The Voyages of the Venetian Brothers Nicolo and Antonio Zeno (ed.)

The Genealogie of the Sainteclaires of Rosslyn (ed.)

History and Origins of the Order of Free Gardeners

The Illustrated Guide to Rosslyn Chapel (ed.)

An Account of the Chapel of Roslin (ed.)

Freemasons, Templars and Gardeners

The Templar Church of London (ed.)

A Winter with Robert Burns (ed.)

Cracking the Freemasons Code

The Rosslyn Hoax? 

Numerous papers of his have been published in a variety of journals, magazines and newspapers. He has also appeared on numerous television programmes and has featured on radio shows at home and overseas. 

The Rosslyn Hoax? (see www.rosslynhoax.com) published in October 2006 sold out by March 2007 and it has recently been announced that a second edition is to be published as a paperback in June 2007.

(John Neal with John Michell)

During a life spent on the land I became interested in the measurements that were peculiar to agriculture, measuring corn in "quarters" bushels and pecks, land in rods and acres, distance in chains and furlongs, wood by cords and so forth.  I had always been interested in archaeology and in later life married the two interests in general research of ancient measurements.  I realised that very little was known about the subject because nobody could give a truly definitive value of any measure due to variations that are detectable in all modules.  I knew that there had to be connective link between them that rationalised into a system, for the simple reason of the existence of ancient engineering marvels and fully accurate long distance surveys.  Things that could not be achieved through an arbitrary approach to metrology.  I never wrote anything until I had resolved the enigmas, by which time I was sixty years old after thirty years of research in varying degrees of intensity.  Now it is time to disseminate this knowledge because it is now understood and is colossal, of all the remnants of antiquity it is the most persuasive indicator of a high science that flourished without change from the Neolithic until the Twentieth Century.

This talk will focus on that the Knights Templar were the continuators of the great Norman tradition of Conquest that saw the Conquest of Normandy, then England, Sicily and finally Palestine. The Ulvungars had shown the way and contributed in no small measure to the only successful crusade, the first crusade. The dynasty of Odin and David via Jesus needed protection now that they were back in Jerusalem, hence the formation of the Knights Templar. My books ‘The God-kings of Europe’ and my impending book ‘The God-Kings of England’ are part of a series of books that I am writing that will show how and what was planned. For information on 'The God-Kings of England' which we will be launching today; click here

The Travels of Brother Alan. 

Brother Alan was a Templar who carried money between England and France for Henry III. He was one of many Templars who served the kings of England. This talk will examine in depth the relationship of the Templars and the Norman and Plantagent monarchs. It will show that this relationship was not always cordial, and it extended from national and financial matters into the sphere of local government and the life of the local community.