The Priors of Hexham

By J W Fawcett

Hexham Priory was founded in 1114 by Thurstan, Archbishop of York, for Augustinian or Austin Canons, and continued until the 26th February, 1536/37, when it surrendered after the dissolution of monasteries. During these 422 years twenty-six persons held the office of Prior, of which the following is a list.

  1. ASCHETILL or ASKETILL, appointed by Archbishop Thurstan 1114 : was a Canon or Monk of Huntingdon 1114; Prior of Hexham, 1130; Prebendary of Salton, Yorkshire, and Canon Residentiary of York 1114–1130; died at Hexham, 18th March, 1129/30; buried at Hexham. He was an active and zealous man, full of tact and of a kindly disposition, and left a good name behind him.
  2. ROBERT BISETH, appointed by the brotherhood 1130, resigned 1141, was a Canon of Hexham; was chamberlain of Hexham Priory 1130; was Prior of Hexham 1130–1141; Prebendary of Salton and Canon Residentiary of York 1130–1141; entered the Cistercian Monastery at Clairvaulx 1141, where he probably died — was learned and deeply religious, of a contemplative disposition, fonder of religious exercises than of an active life, “a better saint than administrator” [Ælred.]
  3. RICHARD, elected 1141; confirmed 1142; died circa 1174–8probably died before 1167; was a native of Hexham; was a Canon of Hexham 1138–41; Prior of Hexham 1141–1174–8probably died before 1167; Prebendary of Salton and Canon Residentiary of York 1141–1174–8probably died before 1167; was Author of History of the Church of Hexham; The Acts of King Stephen, &c. Died at Hexham sometime between 1174–8probably died before 1167; buried at Hexham. [Vide Fawcett's Worthies of Hexham.]
  4. JOHN, elected circa 1174–8probably before 1167; died circa 1209; was a native of Hexham; a Canon of Hexham 11??–117?; Prior of Hexham 117?–1209; was author of a chronicle of events between 1130–54.
  5. WILLIAM, elected c.1209; of him little is known.
  6. BERNARD occurs 1226 and 1242; of him also little is known. It was during his Priorate that the greater part of the present church at Hexham was erected.
  7. JOHN DE LAZENBY occurs 1251 and 1271; was a Yorkshireman, of whom little definite is known.
  8. RICHARD DE EBOR, elected 1271, but rejected by Walter Giffard, Archbishop of York; was a Canon of Hexham, and probably a native of York.
  9. HENRY DE MERDENE, nominated by Archbishop Giffard 1271; Prior of Oseney, Oxford, 1271; Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York, 1271–81. Died at Hexham, December 1281; buried in the Conventual Cemetery.
  10. WILLIAM DEL CLAY, elected Jan. 29, and confirmed Feb. 28, 1281; died 1292; was a Canon of Hexham and Prebendary of Salton, 1281–92; Penancer to John Romayne, Archbishop of York, within the liberty of Hexham, 1286.
  11. THOMAS DE FENWICK, elected 1293; resigned April, 1311; was probably a member of the great Northumbrian clan or family of Fenwick; was Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York, 1293–1311. During his time Hexham Priory was almost totally destroyed by the Scots in April, 1296. Resigned in April, 1311, for an annual pension of ten silver pounds a year, a special chamber and fit sustenance.
  12. GILBERT DE BOROUGHBRIDGE [or PONTEBURGH], nominated by Archbishop Greenfield 4th July, 1311, objected to by Canons of Hexham, was a Canon of Nostell, Yorkshire, 1311; on being objected to by canons he had an annual pension of £10 assigned to him for the term of his natural life, or until he should occupy some office or preferment, 1312.
  13. ROBERT DE WHELPINGTON, elected 12th January, 1312, was a native of Whelpington, Northumberland; was a Canon of Hexham 1308; was ordered to be sent to St Oswald's, Gloucester, to go through his penance for misconduct, 21st August, 1308; Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York, 1312–28; was Master of St Giles' Hospital, and Keeper of the Spiritualities at Hexham 1318–28; was President of the Chapter General of the Augustinian Order in the Northern Province 1313. During his time the Scots ravaged Hexham in 1312/13, 1315 and 1318; resigned September 12, 1328, through sickness and old age, and had an annual pension assigned him.
  14. THOMAS DE APPLETON, elected October 1328, died circa 1345; was a native of Appleton, Yorkshire; was a Canon of Hexham 1311–28; was keeper of the Spiritualities of Hexham in 1312–13 and 1315; was Receiver of Hexham 1313, 1323–28; was Penancer of Hexhamshire 1327; was Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York 1328–45; was Receiver at Hexham 1331; was Keeper of the Spiritualities 1340; and official and penancer in the regality of Hexham 1342–3.
  15. JOHN DE BRIDEKIRK, elected 22nd October, 1345; died circa 1349; was a native of Bridekirk, Cumberland; was Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York 1345–49; was Penancer within the Regality of Hexham 1345. During his time King David of Scotland visited Hexham prior to Battle of Neville's Cross, October 1340.
  16. JOHN DE WALWORTH, elected Oct. 1349; died circa 1358; was a native of Walworth, Durham; was ordained sub-deacon at Carlisle in 1339, and Priest at Dalston in 1340; was Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York 1349–58; was Receiver of Hexham 1357; and Keeper of the Spiritualities 1357–8.
  17. WILLIAM DE KENDAL, appointed August 1358, was a native of Kendal, Westmorland; was ordained subdeacon at Corbridge in 1334, and priest at Dalston in 1336, by John de Kirkeby, Bishop of Carlisle; was Canon of Hexham; Penancer of Hexhamshire, 1352; Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York, 1358–1366; died about June, 1366.
  18. ALEXANDER DE MARTON, elected 29th July, 1367, was a Yorkshireman; was a Canon of Hexham, 1359; was Vicar of Warden 1359–1367; Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York, 1367–1398; Chancellor of the Liberty of Tynedale, 1376–1388; and 1388–1398; Master of St Giles' Hospital, Hexham, 1378–1398; Keeper of the Spiritualities of Hexham, 1396/7, and again 1397/8; resigned 1398.
  19. JOHN DE HEXHAM, elected Feb. 19th 1399, was a native of Hexham and a member of the de Hexham family, who gave so many sons to the church; ordained subdeacon at Gateshead 1365, and priest at the same place in 1366, by Matthew Langon, suffragan to Bishop Hatfield; was Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton and Canon Residentiary of York 1399–1409; joined the Earl of Northumberland in a rebellion against Henry IV in 1408, and was deprived of his office, but received his pardon and was restored to his offices; was Chancellor of the Liberty of Hexham 1408; died in 1409.
  20. WILLIAM DE WOODHORNE, elected June, 1409, was a native of Northumberland; was ordained acolyte in Durham Cathedral by Bishop Hatfield in 1370, and deacon in St Nicholas' Church (now the Cathedral), Newcastle-on-Tyne, in 1370, by Hugh, Bishop of Lethlin; was Canon of Hexham 1397–1409; was Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York 1409–1428; was keeper of the Spiritualities of Hexham 1423; died about 1428; his device, a hunting horn between three W's, on a shield, was formerly on one of the misereresi.e. misericords [OED: “An incorrect use”] probably an armrest in Hexham Church; now in the vestry.
  21. JOHN DE BRAWBY, elected February 1428, was a Yorkshireman; was Canon of Hexham 1427; was Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York 1428–1443; died about May, 1443.
  22. THOMAS FERRER [or FERROUR] elected 29th June, 1443, was a Canon of Hexham; ordained subdeacon and deacon at Durham in 1429, and priest at the same place 1430 by Bishop Langley; was Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York 144?–57; Keeper of the Spiritualities of Hexham 1446; Chancellor of the Liberty of Hexham and official of the Court there 1452; Penancer of Hexham 1455; resigned 1457 for a pension.
  23. JOHN WELLS, elected 1st December, 1457, was Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York 1457–75; Commissioner to punish the offences of the dependents of the Archbishop of York at Hexham 1462 and 1464/5. Died at Hexham 27th December, 1475; buried in Hexham Abbey Church on the same day. During his time the two battles of Hexham — 3rd April, 1463, and 14th May, 1464 — were fought.
  24. WILLIAM BYWELL, elected May, 1476, was a native of Bywell; was Canon of Hexham 1424–76; was ordained deacon at Durham 1424 by Robert Forster, Bishop of Elphin; and priest in 1425; was vicar of Stamfordham 14??–1475; was Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York 1475–1479/80. Died at Hexham 16th February, 1479/80, aged about 80.
  25. ROWLAND LESCHMAN, elected 22nd March, 1480, was a native of Hexham; was Canon of Hexham 1480; was Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton and Canon Residentiary of York 1480–91actually 99*; died at Hexham in 1491actually 1499*; buried in Hexham Abbey Church in the eastern aisle of the south transept, where an oratory and tomb was erected [HEXAB213]. His tomb, portions of which yet remain, between the east aisle of the south transept and the chancel, has a shield bearing his rebus r l placed in saltire. He carried out extensive works in Hexham church; restored the woodwork and furniture extended the prior's house, and added to the domestic building. [NB: Fawcett was writing in 1903 and presumably did not know that in 1858 Leschman's Chantry Chapel had been damaged while being moved from its former position on the N side of the Chancel to the N bay of the S Transept E aisle. It was restored to its former position in 1908.]
  26. THOMAS SMITHSON, elected 4th June, 1491actually 1499*, was a native of Yorkshire; was Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York 1491actually 1499*–1524; was Keeper of the Spiritualities of Hexham 1507; was one of the regular visitors of the Augustinian Priories appointed by the Provincial Chapter at Leicester, 1508, for Yorkshire; died in 1524. He erected the costly and beautiful rood screen [HEXAB133] in Hexham Church — one of the chief ornaments of the building — as we learn from the inscription — “Orate pro anima domini Thomæ Smithson, prioris hugus ecclesiæ, qui fecit hoc opus” [Pray for the soul of Sir [Revd] Thomas Smithson, Prior of this Church, who made this work]. His monogram, “TS” joined together, appears on a stone [HEXAB6507] formerly in front of the White Horse Inn, Hexham Market Place, and several times at Dotland Park — a country seat of the Hexham Priors — where he must have carried out extensive additions.
  27. EDWARD JAY, elected 9th May, 1524, the last of the Priors of Hexham, was Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York 1524–36; was accused of incontinency January, 1536; was deposed 26th February, 1536; was allowed by royal grant to retain as a pension his prebend of Salton in York Cathedral. During his time he completed the furniture of the Church of Hexham, for one of the misereresi.e. misericords [OED: “An incorrect use”] probably an armrest of the [former] choir stalls bore the carved device of a popinjay, which is generally supposed to allude to him.

The statement made by many historians that Augustus Webster, who was hanged at Tyburn for refusing to acknowledge King Henry VIII as supreme head of Christ's Church on earth, was the last Prior of Hexham is incorrect. Webster was a Cistercian Monk and was Prior of Axholme not Hexham. The statement that Jay was hanged at the gate of his own Priory is also incorrect, as he was alive some years after the dissolution.

Hexham Priory was dissolved on 26th Feb., 1536, and the house and site of the Abbey, with the advowson of the Church, was granted in November, 1538, to Sir Reginald Carnaby, who had been administrator of the Priory lands for the crown since 1536.