Hugh of Northwold

Infobox bishopbiog
name = Hugh of Northwold


religion =Catholic
See =Diocese of Ely
Title = Bishop of Ely
Period = 1229–1254
Predecessor = Geoffrey de Burgo
Successor =William of Kilkenny
ordination =
bishops =
post =Abbot of Bury St Edmunds
date of birth =
place of birth =
date of death =August 6 1254
place of death =

Hugh of Northwold was a medieval Bishop of Ely.

Life

Hugh was born in the parish of Northwold in Norfolk, the son of Peter and Emma. He became a monk at Abbey of Bury St Edmunds in 1202.Owen "Northwold, Hugh of (d. 1254)" "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography"]

He was elected Abbot of Bury St. Edmunds on August 7 1213.Smith "Heads of Religious Houses II" p. 26] King John of England, however, contested the election, and for three years it was contested until on June 10 1215, when the king finally accepted Hugh's election.

He was elected to the see of Ely about February 3 1229. [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33863 British History Online Bishops of Ely] accessed on October 25, 2007] He was consecrated on June 19 1229 at Canterbury. While bishop, he built extensively, was sent on diplomatic missions for King Henry III of England, and escorted Eleanor of Provence to England for her marriage to King Henry. He was also a good friend of Robert Grosseteste.Miller "Abbey and Bishopric of Ely" p. 77-78] His greatest work as bishop was his increase in the estates of the bishoprics, through buying new lands and increasing the rents on extant manors. He also worked with Thorney Abbey on reclamation of the fenlands surrounding Ely. The presbytery of Ely Cathedral was built while he was bishop.

He died on August 6 1254Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 244] at Downham and was buried in his presbytery in Ely Cathedral. The tomb is still extant.

Notes

References

* [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33863 British History Online Bishops of Ely] accessed on October 25, 2007
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Persondata
NAME=Hugh of Northwold
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bishop of Ely
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=August 6, 1254
PLACE OF DEATH=