Thomas Docwra

Thomas Docwra (1458? – 1527) was Grand Prior of the English Knights Hospitaller.

Thomas Docwra, the son of Richard Docwra and Alice Greene, the daughter of Thomas Greene of Gressingham, Lancashire, was admitted to the Knights Hospitaller at the age of 16, spending about four years as a novitiate. In 1480 he was in Rhodes with Sir Thomas Greene during the unsuccessful Turkish siege of the island. He later became preceptor of the Order's holdings in Dinmore, Herefordshire. In 1494 Sir Thomas became Prior of Ireland and then a year later Turcopolier of the English tongue. By 1499 he became captain of the castle of St. Peter in Bodrum. In 1501 he succeeded Sir John Kendal as Grand Prior in England, taking responsibility for all their property in England. He reversed the policy of leasing out property to secular tenants, most noticeably with Temple Balsall in Warwickshire. He terminated the lease of Sir Robert Throckmorton and attempted to gain the arrears of rent. When Sir Lancelot Docwra arrived to reclaim the property, Throckmorton had fortified the manor house and refused to allow the Hospitallers entry.

Nevertheless, Thomas let out Temple Dinsley in Hertfordshire to his nephew John Docwra in 1519. Another transaction was the leasing of land in Hampton, Middlesex to Thomas Wolsey, the Archbishop of York. This is where Wolsey built Hampton Court of which Henry VIII of England took possession when Wolsey fell from favour. Overall the Order had over 40 preceptories spread out from Cornwall to Northumberland, the majority of which retained their concentual status. Docwra would have had to visit them all once a year.

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