Bishop Of Durham

Durham. 13 recorded holders. religious office ← all offices

The succession the rolls themselves record for this office, earliest first — a finding aid drawn from the roll text, not an authoritative fasti. Spelling variants of one holder now fold together where the volumes' own printed indexes attest them (“Burghers” and “Burghersh” are one man when the editors say so); the opposite case — one name hiding two men — is proposed from the same indexes and from matched identities, and separates only after human confirmation. Until then a shared name lists as one holder, and the list can be checked against printed succession lists (Fasti / VCH).

1. Anthony Bek 1290–1305 ×10
   • 1290-06-21 — . 369 for the alienation in mortmain by Nicholas Brisebon of Montto the prior and convent of Wenlok of the manor of Cakley; condition that his villeins there re…
   • 1293-11-01 — Inspeximus and confirmation of a charter, dated at the New Temple, London, 20 June, in the second year of king John of Scotland, whereb the said king granted fo…
   • 1297-08-17 — To John de Lythegraynes, escheator beyond Trent. Order to cause Anthony Bek, bishop of Durham, to have seisin of the lands whereof William de Vescy, lately dece…
   • 1305-01-22 — Mandate to the abbot of Aumale or his attorney in England, to present Robert de Cotingham, king's clerk, to the church of Esington, in the diocese of York, to w…
2. Anthony de Bek 1290–1333 ×5
   • 1290-08-31 — Hugh de Finemere came before the king, on Thursday after the aforesaid feast, and sought to replevy to Hugh de Brok the latter's land in Chesham, which was take…
   • 1333-05-20 — Inspeximus and attestation, at the request of Robert de Valoignes, preof Warthull, and John Giffard, prebendary of Grendale, in the of St. Peter, York, king's c…
   • 1333-05-20 — Inspeximus and attestation, at the request of Robert de Valoignes, prebendary of Warthull, and John Gitfard, prebendary of Grendale, in the church of St. Peter,…
3. Richard de Bury 1334–1348 ×14
   • 1334-04-01 — Grant to Henry de Carleton, king's clerk, of the prebend in the collegiate church of Westbury, in the diocese of Worcester, which Richard de Bury, bishop of Dur…
   • 1334-04-06 — Grant to Henry de Carleton, king's clerk, of the prebend in the collegiate church of Westbury, in the diocese of Worcester, which Richard de Bury, bishop of Dur…
   • 1335-06-06 — Grant to Richard de Bury, bishop of Durham, that of the 1,000 in which the commons of the liberty of Durham made fine for supersession of an eyre summoned withi…
   • 1335-06-08 — the king knights fees and advowsons of churches, rendering 10 for the first two months and a proportionate sum for a longer By p.s. [8661.] to Richard de Bury, …
   • 1341-10-15 — Order to discharge Richard de Bury, bishop of Durham, of at the exchequer, in the wardrobe or in other courts and for other for the time when he was chamberlain…
   • 1341-10-20 — Order to discharge Richard de Bury, bishop of Durham, of debts at the exchequer, in the wardrobe or in other courts and for other for the time when he was chamb…
   • 1342-05-26 — To the treasurer and barons of the exchequer. Order to allow 38401. to John de Weston, late the constable of Bordeaux, in his account, if they find that he paid…
   • 1348-07-24 — Grant for life to Margery de Mounceux, for good service to the king and his son, Lionel de Andewerp, of an annuity of 10 marks at the exchequer. By p.s. 24. The…
4. Thomas de Hatfeld 1350–1380 ×4
   • 1357-05-12 — Thomas de Hatfeld, bishop of Durham, acknowledges that he owes to Michael de Ravendale, clerk, and to Robert Gosson of Keleby 200. ; to be levied etc. of his la…
   • 1380-06-26 — anc confirmation of an indenture quadripartite dated Monday after St. Barnabas, 3 Richard II., whereby William de Thomas Daunay, William de Hornby and Thomas de…
   • undated — Cancelled on payment. Enrolment of deed testifying that whereas the king granted by charter that although he and his predecessors, kings of England, used by vir…
5. John de Fordham 1382–1384 ×5
   • 1382-03-08 — Memorandum of acknowledgment, 21 February. John Fordham bishop of Durham, Francis Vyncheguerre and Piers Brunel merchants of Lukes to Robert Rykedoun of Essex, …
   • 1382-03-08 — Memorandum of acknowledgment, 21 February. John Fordham bishop of Durham, Francis Vyncheguerre and Piers Brunel merchants of Lukes to Robert Rykedoun of Essex, …
   • 1384-01-12 — Memorandum of acknowledgment, 29 January this year. Joan who was the wife of Thomas de Felton knight to Robert Braybrook bishop of London, John de Fordham bisho…
   • 1384-01-12 — Memorandum of acknowledgment, 29 January this year. Joan who was the wife of Thomas de Felton knight to Robert bishop of London, John de Fordham bishop of Durha…
   • 1384-01-22 — To the sheriffs of London. Writ of swpersedeas, by mainprise of William Grendon, John Bereforde, Alexander Hert and John Estby of Middlesex, in favour of John E…
6. Walter de Skirlowe 1391
   • 1391-02-15 — To John Bozoun escheator in Lincolnshire. Order to remove the king's hand and meddle no further with the manor of Gretwelle, delivering to Walter Skirlowe bisho…
7. Walter de Skirlawe 1397 ×2
   • 1397-10-23 — Commitment to John Hyldyard, clerk, and Peter del Hay, at the request of Walter Skirlawe, bishop of Durham, and on the surrender by him in the Chancery of lette…
   • undated — for life or until promoted to some ecclesiastical benefice of the of 50/. a year, to Master Richard Ronhale, to whom the late king, patent which the king has co…
8. Thomas Langley 1430
   • 1430-10-25 — Henry IV and Ivo Fitz Waryn, knight, were lately seised in fee of the of Eton Tregoys co. Hereford with the advowson of the chapel of to the use and profit of H…
9. Robert de Nevill 1444
   • 1444-05-05 — Licence for Robert Nevill, bishop of Durham, and Nicholas Hulme, clerk, and the bishop's successors to grant to the abbot and convent of the monastery of St. Ma…
10. Laurence Bothe 1458–1476 ×3
    • 1458-04-29 — Commitment to Laurence Bothe, bishop of Durham, by mainprise of Robert Radclyff, esquire, and Henry Strangways, both of London, of the guardianship or farm of a…
    • 1464-06-12 — . Part II. 875 Mandate to John Fogge, knight, treasurer of the household, John Scotte, knight, controller of the household, and Thomas Colte to permit Laurence …
    • 1476-06-18 — Grant to Laurence Bothe, bishop of Durham, of the custody of the of the archbishopric of York and all issues of the same and any and pensions due to the king by…
11. William Dudley 1481
    • 1481-02-15 — Whereas Thomas, abbot of the monastery of St. Mary by the walls the city of York, lately held of Thomas, cardinal archbishop of Richard, bishop of Salisbury, Ro…
12. John de Shirwode 1485
    • 1485-01-16 — Pardon to John Shirwode, bishop of Durham, alias prothonotary apostolic, alias late orator of the king, alias late archdeacon of Richemond, alias professor of t…
13. Lewis de Bello Monte undated ×2
    • undated — Ratification of the provision made of the rectory of Radeclive, in the diocese of York, resigned by Lewis de Bellomonte, bishop of Durham, certain persons havin…
    • undated — Ratification of the made of the rectory of Radeclive, in the diocese of resigned by Lewis de Bellomonte, bishop of Durham, persons having asserted that the said…

Ordered by the first date each holder appears with the office — where a holder is undated they sort last. Dates are the roll entries' own, not tenure dates.
Cite: “bishop of Durham”, Reading the Rolls, https://readingtherolls.com/office/bishop-of-durham, accessed 2026-07-25. Derived from the printed calendars of the medieval English royal records.