Registers of the Bishops of Winchester on DVD

This fine series of bishops’ registers are a key source for medieval and early modern religious and political history, and for the period 1282-1642 survive in an almost unbroken run, virtually unparalleled in any other English diocese. All the registers contain the usual records of clergy appointments, and most include ordinations. In addition, the medieval volumes contain records of other episcopal business – details of episcopal visitations and elections to religious houses, information about the spread and suppression of heresy, registered copies of wills, and documents such as letters and writs.

From the mid 16th century entries relating to clerical appointments and ordinations predominate with only occasional items relating to other business. The register of Robert Horne 1561-79, with its extensive record of visitation proceedings at Oxford and Winchester, is an exception to this. The registers are almost entirely in Latin, but many have been indexed and some published. Fuller information about individual volumes is given in the Hampshire Archives and Local Studies online catalogue, including details of indexes and published editions. For use with PCs only The surviving set of 38 registers can be purchased for £380. Please contact us by sending a question below.