The Prior of Durham was the head of the Roman Catholic Durham Cathedral Priory, founded c. 1083 with the move of a previous house from Jarrow. The succession continued until dissolution of the monastery in 1540, when the priory was replaced with a Church of England deanery church.
After the Benedictine monastery was dissolved, the last Prior of Durham, Hugh Whitehead, became the first Dean of Durham, heading the cathedral's secular chapter.
List Priors of St Cuthbert's Cathedral Priory, Durham From Until Incumbent Citation(s) Notes1083died 1087AldwinKnowles, Brooke, and London, (1972), Heads of Religious Houses , i, p. 43Prior of Jarrow from 1073x4 before the priory's move to Durham1087resigned 1109TurgotBecame Bishop of St Andrews 1109died 1137 x 1138Algar?1138died 1149Roger1149died 1154Lawrence1154died 1158Absalom1161 x 1162resigned 1162 or 1163ThomasDied 11731163died 1189Germanus1189died 1212 x 1213Bertram1212 x 1213died 1218WilliamSmith & London (eds.), Heads of Religions Houses, ii, pp. 37—8 1218died 1234Ranulf KernethSmith & London (eds.), Heads of Religions Houses, ii, p. 381234died 1244Thomas de Melsonby1244resigned 1258Bertram de MiddletonStill alive in 12661258resigned 1273Hugh de Darlington1273resigned 1285Richard de Claxton1286resigned 1290Hugh de Darlington (again)elected 1290Richard de HotonSmith & London (eds.), Heads of Religions Houses, ii, pp. 38—9 Deprived of office 1300, replaced with Henry de Lusby; restored 1302; suspended and replaced by Lusby again 1306; restored 1307; died 1308.Fraser, C. M. (2004), "Hoton, Richard (d. 1308), prior of Durham", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/13858, retrieved on 2009-01-28appointed 1300Henry de LusbyPrior of Lindisfarne, appointed to Durham 1300-1302 and briefly in 1306. Died 1306. 1308resigned 1313William de TanfieldSmith & London (eds.), Heads of Religions Houses, ii, p. 39 Died 7 February 13141313resigned 1321Geoffrey de BurdonStill alive in 1333; previously prior of Finchale and prior of Lyythamelected 1321William de GuisboroughElected 6 February, renounced election 8 February 13211321died 1341William de Cowton1341died 1374John FossorSmith & London (eds.), Heads of Religions Houses, ii, pp. 39—40 1374died 1391Robert Berrington of WalworthSmith & London (eds.), Heads of Religions Houses, ii, p. 40 1391died 1416John de HemingbroughPage, "Priory of St Cuthbert, Durham".1416died 1446John de Washington1446resigned 1456William Ebchester1456died 1464John Burnby1464resigned 1479Richard Bell1479died 1484Robert Ebchester1484died 1494John Auckland14941519Thomas Castell1520office abolished 1540Hugh WhiteheadSurrendered the monastery to the king in 1540, and reappointed as first Dean of Durham with a chapter of twelve canons. Died 1551.Knighton, "Whitehead, Hugh"
Notes
References