| NAME |
DATES |
INTERESTING FACTS |
| Alexander (founding abbot) |
1147-82 |
'A true abbot in deed and name.'(2) |
| Ralph Haget |
1182-c.90 |
'A man of piety and noteworthy for all holiness; a lover
of justice and most ardent in rivalry for the good of the
Order.'(3) |
| Lambert |
c. 1190-93 |
'A man of supreme innocence and singleness of mind.'(4) |
| Turgisius |
c. 1196 |
'A man of noteworthy self-restraint.'(5) |
| Helias of Roche |
c. 1203 |
'A man of energy, fully practised in dealing with outside
affairs.'(6) |
| Ralph of Newcastle |
c. 1204-1231/2 |
|
| Walter |
Succeeded Ralph; d.1231x3 (brief abbacy) |
|
| Maurice |
? - 1249. Perhaps succeeded Walter in 1239; occ. 1234-46;
abbacy ended in 1249 |
|
| Adam |
1249-? Occ. 1257 |
|
| Hugh Mikelay |
1260-2 |
|
| Simon |
1262-70 |
Simon attended Simon de Montfort's parliament in 1265. |
| William of Leeds |
1270-75 |
|
| Gilbert of Cotles / Cotes |
1275-80 |
The General
Chapter demanded Gilbert's resignation on account of
the abbey's debts. |
| Henry Kar / Carr |
1280-? Occ. 1285 |
In 1281 he became lord of the manor of Bradley. |
| William of Darlington (Parlington) |
Occ June 1285-June 1258 |
William's abbacy is omitted in the 'Foundation of Kirkstall.'(7)
|
| Hugh Grimston |
1289-1304 |
The 'Foundation of Kirkstall' erroneously states that Hugh
succeeded to the abbacy in 1284 since he did not make his
profession of
obedience to the archbishop of York until February 1289.(8) |
| John of Bridesale / Birdsall |
1304-? Occ. April 1312 |
|
| Walter |
1314-? |
|
| William of Driffield |
1318-49 |
|
| Roger of Leeds |
1349-? Occ. Feb. 1351 |
|
| John Topcliffe |
Occ. 1 July 1354-1368 |
John was at the forefront of local brigandage. |
| John of Thornberg |
Occ. Easter 1366 (referred to as former abbot 1399) |
In 1377 Abbot John was brought before the royal commissioners
and charged with numerous offences. |
| John of Bardsey |
1392 |
John purchased the Benedictine priory of Burstall with its
possessions and revenues. The bell, 'Lawrence', which survives
at Kirkthorpe
may have been forged by him. |
| William of Stapleton |
1414 |
|
| John of Colyngham |
1433 |
|
| William Grayson |
1452 |
|
| Thomas Wymbeslay |
1468 |
|
| Robin Killenbeck |
1499 |
|
| William Stockdale |
1501 |
William raised the tower to belfry level; his initials can
be seen carved at the base of the tower. |
| William Marshall |
1509 |
|
| John Ripley (Brown) |
1528 |
'A sober man who spoke little.' John surrendered the abbey
in 1539 and is said to have resided in the old gatehouse until
his
death. |
