John Fossor was Prior of Durham from 1341 until his death in 1374.
John Fossor | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1283 or 1285 |
| Died | 1374 |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Prior of Durham |
Life
editFossor became Prior of Durham in 1341. The two seals of Fossor cost 8d.[1]
In 1342 Fossor criticized the sheriff of Durham for not paying his share of incomes from the pleas in the Bishop's court. Bishop Richard de Bury issued a mandate to the sheriff ordering him to pay. The later refusal of the sheriff of Durham to deliver tenants of the priory to Prior Fossor meant that Fossor once again petitioned the Bishop in a letter.[2]
In 1346 before the Battle of Neville's Cross Fossor led the Durham monks to raise the holy corporax cloth from St. Cuthbert's tomb on Maiden's Bower during a vigil.[3] Before the battle the Scottish army sacked Beaurepaire Manor House, and Fossor ordered it to be rebuilt and extended to also house the monks of the priory.[4] Fossor wrote a letter regarding the battle to Thomas Hatfield, the Bishop of Durham, which is now considered to be one of the most important sources of information for the battle.[5]
In Durham Cathedral circa 1350 the Jesse window in the west wall of the nave and the window of the Four Doctors in the north transept were inserted by Fossor. Between 1365 and 1370 Fossor also built the kitchen of the monastery.[6]
On 21 February 1371 a bond of the Vicar of Northallerton, John of Hayton, to the Prior of Durham in £1000 to pay an annual pension of 20 marks at Pentecost and Martinmas from 1371, 25 marks in 1376 and £20 each following year was written.[7]
During Fossor's time as Prior of Durham Edward III gave to Durham Cathedral alabaster ornaments of the Holy Trinity and the Blessed Virgin.[8] Near his death Fossor commissioned the Neville Screen in Durham Cathedral, costing either £500 or 500 marks.[9]
He died in 1374, living until nearly ninety years of age.[9] His body was wrapped in an oxhide.[10]
References
edit- ^ "Medieval Seals of the Bishops of Durham". C. H. Hunter Blair. 1922. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "The Courts of the Prior and the Bishop of Durham in the Later Middle Ages". Blackwell Publishers. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ "When Scottish soldiers and English troops did battle". The Northern Echo. 5 September 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ "Beaurepaire Manor House, County Durham". The Wandering Academic. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "The Battle of Neville's Cross". The Durham Cow. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Durham Cathedral". British History Online. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Durham Cathedral Archive: Eboracensia". Durham University. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "A XIVTH CENTURY ENGLISH ALABASTER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN" (PDF). Philip Nelson. 7 April 1921. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ a b "The Neville Screen". Durham Cathedral. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ "Houses of Benedictine monks: Priory of St Cuthbert, Durham (later Durham cathedral)". Victoria County History. 1907. Retrieved 15 October 2024.