Dean Of Wells

Wells. 19 recorded holders. ← 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. John Sarracenus 1238 ×3
   • 1238-01-28 — Protection, without term, for John Sarracenus, dean of Wells.
   • undated — Protection, without term, for John Sarracenus, dean of Wells.
2. Giles de Brideporth 1256 ×3
   • 1256-02-17 — Mandate to all bailiffs of Ireland not to permit Angus son of Donald or any other malefactors of the realm of Scotland, whose names the king of Scotland will le…
3. Giles de Brideport 1256 ×5
   • 1256-04-15 — Signification to B. archbishop of Canterbury, of the royal assent to the election of Master Giles de Brideport, dean of Wells, to be bishop of Salisbury.
   • 1256-06-08 — de intendendo to the tenants of the abbey of Evesham, in favour Henry de Wigornia, late prior, whose election as abbot has been by the pope, and to whom the kin…
4. Edward de la Cnolle 1264–1280 ×10
   • 1280-01-07 — Licence for Master Edward de Knolle, dean of Wells, for life, to hunt and take the fox, the hare, the badger and the cat with his own hounds, whenever he please…
5. Thomas de Button 1289 ×2
   • 1289-10-13 — To the same. Order to discharge Master Thomas de Button, dean of Wells, of 1102. for the manor of Stoke Curcy, which he held at ferm for 110 marks yearly, as it…
6. Thomas de Bitton 1291 ×2
   • 1291-11-30 — Signification to J. archbishop of Canterbury of the royal assent to the of Master Thomas de Bitton, dean of Wells, to be bishop of Exeter.
7. William Burnel 1292–1295 ×7
   • 1292-05-07 — Cancelled on payment, acknowledged by Master William Burnel, dean of Wells, and William de Hamelton, archdeacon of York, executors. of the bishop's will,
   • 1293-05-23 — Cancelled on payment acknowledged by Hugh de Kendal. William de Linedon came before the king, on Sunday after St. Augustine, and sought to replevy his land in G…
   • 1293-06-17 — de Welles acknowledges that he owes to Edward de Kirkleye of and Isabel, his wife 5/.; to be levied, in default of payment, of and chattels in co. Hertford. Joh…
   • 1294-03-25 — Memorandum, that Philip Gerardyn of the said society came into chancery on Friday the eve of St. James, in the 27th year, in the chapel of the House of Converts…
   • 1294-04-25 — late the wife of Maurice de Pysinges, came before the king, on the feast of St. Mark, and sought to replevy the land of her and de Pysinges and of John, his bro…
   • 1294-09-22 — Chaunterel of Wodeham acknowledges that he owes to Robert 60l.; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and in co. Hssex. abbot of Vale Royal acknowle…
   • 1295-08-10 — Adam de Kerseye acknowledges that he owes to Roger de Bella Fago 67, 10s. Od.; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in co. Oxford. Joh…
8. John de Godelec 1331
   • 1331-09-29 — The like for the following : John de Godelec, dean of Wells. Henry Gernet. Master Nicholas de Sandwico, parson of the church of Crupthorn. Master Henry de Clif,…
9. John de Godeleye 1331–1332 ×2
   • 1331-10-26 — The like for the following : John de Godelee, dean of Wells. Henry Gernet. Master Nicholas de Sandwico, parson of the church of Crupthorn. Master Henry de Clif,…
10. Roger de Mari 1337 ×3
    • 1337-06-04 — To the same. Order to cause John de Bradeweye to have respite until the quinzaine of Michaelmas next for all the debts which he owes at, the exchequer for the t…
    • 1337-06-04 — To the same. Order to; cause John de Bradeweye to have respite the quinzaine of Michaelmas next for all the debts which he owes the exchequer for the time when …
11. Walter de London 1342–1347 ×5
    • 1342-11-12 — The like to twelve other bishops, the abbot of Rameseye and twentythree other abbots, the abbots and convents of St. Augustine's, Canterbury and Westminster, th…
    • 1346-04-01 — The like to the following : The prior of St. Bartholomew, Smythefeld, London, Master John Barnet and John Pyel, in the diocese of London, the said John Piel to …
    • 1347-04-08 — To W. archbishop of York. The king sends to him Nicholas de taunford, his clerk, with letters under the privy seal upon the war of the king's need and the aid w…
    • 1347-05-05 — The like to the following, to wit: The dean and chapter of St. Peter's, York The chapters of Beverley, Houeden and Ripon The abbot of St. Mary's, York, and elev…
12. Thomas de Sudbury 1385–1392 ×3
    • 1385-10-05 — Appointment of Master Walter Skirlawe, keeper of the privy seal, and Masters John de Appelby, dean of St. Paul's, London, Thomas de Sudbury, dean of Wells, Rich…
    • 1392-05-01 — Inspeximus and confirmation to John Skete the elder and John Skete he younger, his son, of (1) a writing of Ralph, bishop of Bath and Wells, dated at his manor …
    • undated — Grant of the same indulgence as was granted by Clement VI. and Innocent VI. to the late abbots William and Richard respectively FF 2 eS ee er ee ee Pee LATERAN …
13. Thomas Tuttebury 1406
    • 1406-09-14 — Prohibition to the chapter of the cathedral church of Wells from doing anything contrary to the statutes of 25 Edward III and 18 Richard II, concerning elective…
14. John Sarraceni undated ×5
    • undated — Mandate to John Sarraceni, dean of Wells, to cause provision to be made to Deodatus de Prefectis, clerk, nephew of the bishop elect of Bethleem, of a benefice o…
    • undated — To the abbot and convent of St. Mary's, York. Relaxation of a hundred days of enjoined penance to those penitents who visit their church on the feasts of the As…
    • undated — Mandate to the bishop of Salisbury to induct the proctor of Albert, clerk, son of Manfred, marquis of Rocceta, into possession of the church of St. Peter, Winte…
    • undated — Confirmation to Robert, clerk, son of John count of Burgundy, lord of Salins, of whatever has been done by the archbishop or official of Canterbury in executing…
    • undated — Confirmation, with exemplification, of the grant made by William, master of the schools at Parma, vice chancellor of the Roman church, 3 Kal., November, 10 Inno…
15. John de Godeley undated ×2
    • undated — To the same. Indult that his confessor shall give him plenary remission at the hour of death. To William de Grandissono and Sibyl his wife, of the diocese of He…
    • undated — To the same. Indult that his confessor shall give him plenary remission at the hour of death. Jan. To William de Grandissono and Sibyl his wife, of the diocese …
16. Richard de Bury undated ×16
    • undated — The like provision of a canonry and prebend of Salisbury ; notwithstanding that he is rector of Melles, in the diocese of Bath. Concurrent mandate to Robert de …
    • undated — The like provision, at the request of the king, whose clerk he is, of a canonry and prebend of Wilton. Concurrent mandate to the prior of Modesfont, Richard de …
    • undated — The like provision, at the king's 299.) request, of a canonry and prebend of Southwell; notwithstanding that he is rector of Yakesley, has a canonry and prebend…
    • undated — The like reservation, at the request of the king, whose chaplain he is, of a benefice in the gift of the bishop and chapter of Lichfield, value 25 marks with cu…
    • undated — Acquittance for the sum of 1500 marks of yearly Avignon. cess due for the kingdom of England and lands of Ireland in (f. 495d.) Year 1830 and the first half of …
    • undated — The like reservation of a benefice in the gift of the prior and convent of Lewes, value 20 marks with cure of souls, or 15 without it; notwithstanding that he i…
    • undated — To the bishop of Le Mans and two others named. Mandate to assign to Ralph de Machecolio, canon of Angers, the archdeaconry of Durham void as above. To Richard c…
    • undated — To the same. Giving them power to deal with the proctors or agents of David, king of Scotland, should he not be in those parts, or should they be unable, or sho…
17. Thomas de Stanley undated ×2
    • undated — To the bishop of Durham and the abbots of St. Mary's without the walls, York, and St. Albans. Confirmation and mandate as below. It was lately set forth to the …
    • undated — The like. Vite ete. Concurrent mandate to the abbots of Westminster and Ramyseye, in the dioceses of London and Lincoln, and the prior of Barnwell. Vite etc. (D…
18. Walter Medeford undated
    • undated — To the abbot of [A]byndon in the diocese of Salisbury. Mandate as below. The recent petition of the guardian and brethren of the Friars Minors house and of the …
19. Walter de Londoniis undated ×2
    • undated — To the bishop of Coventry. Mandate to grant a dispensation to John de Steanuge, knight, and Ida de Clinton to remain in the marriage they have contracted; notwi…
    • undated — To the bishop of Coventry. Mandate to grant a dispensation to John de Steanuge, knight, and Ida de Clinton to remain in the marriage they have contracted; notwi…

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: “dean of Wells”, Reading the Rolls, https://readingtherolls.com/office/dean-of-wells, accessed 2026-07-25. Derived from the printed calendars of the medieval English royal records.