Pre-history
Persons from the 7th Century
Persons from the Middle Ages
Some lesser mortals from the Middle Ages
Prior
Thomas de Melsonby
Local Rhyme
Booklets
Prior Thomas de Melsonby
likeness
- career - seal - architectural
work
Thomas came from Melsonby in North Yorkshire. Their Church of St James was under construction in Thomas' time there. It is still in use and its Norman Tower is to be seen.
[In the model of Edgar's Church at Coldingham, the tower is based on the Norman Tower at Melsonby; see Coldingham Priory timeline 1100].
While at Coldingham, Thomas supervised the start of a new Church. Two walls from this Church are incorporated in the present Church. A 20th century commentator describes Thomas' design here as having exceptional vigour, grace and original vitality.
Thomas moved
on from Coldingham to the mother community at Durham, later becoming its
Prior. While Thomas was there, the extreme east end of the Cathedral Church
was starting to collapse. Thomas was responsible for the building of the
Chapel of the Nine Altars which was added on to the extreme east end,
so strengthening the masonry at that end. This is still to be seen.
He was also responsible for the building of the first Central Tower up
to the gallery. This Tower later collapsed, having been struck by lightning.
(Visitors to the redundant Church of the Holy Trinity in Goodramgate, York, can find in its guide booklet reference to Thomas, Prior of Durham, handing over Durham's part-interest in this Church to the Archbishop of York.)
Thomas' popularity within the Durham community was such that when their Bishop died, Thomas was elected to replace him. However the King would not confirm this. The loyalty of Thomas was called to question as he had sworn allegiance to the Scottish King while Prior of Coldingham. He also raised other objections including that on one of the previous festival days at Durham a tight rope walker had fallen to his death in attempting to walk a rope stretched between the two west end Towers of the Church. The King held Thomas, as Prior, responsible for this. Thomas then set off to consult the Pope, but the King had his Constable at Dover prevent Thomas from leaving the country.
Thomas died on the Inner Farne and was buried in the Chapter House at Durham.