Roger Norreis
Roger Norreis.
Roger Norreis (died c. 1224) was a medieval Abbot of Evesham in England. A native of northern England, his family was probably of Norse origin. He was a monk at Christ Church Priory, the cathedral chapter of Canterbury Cathedral, and in 1187 he was appointed treasurer of the priory. The cathedral chapter sent him to King Henry II of England to plead their case against Baldwin of Forde, the Archbishop of Canterbury. After Norreis took Baldwin's side, the Canterbury monks captured Norreis and held him in custody. He escaped by travelling through the sewer and fled to the safety of the archbishop. In a mocking reference to his escape route, Norreis was sometimes called Roger Cloacarius or "Roger the Drain-Cleaner". In 1190 he was appointed to the abbacy of Evesham Abbey (16th-century bell tower pictured). There he was accused of immoral behaviour and failing to follow monastic rules. In 1202 he became embroiled in a dispute with his monks, and in 1213 the papal legate deposed him from the abbacy.
Roger Norreis (died c. 1224) was a medieval Abbot of Evesham in England. A native of northern England, his family was probably of Norse origin. He was a monk at Christ Church Priory, the cathedral chapter of Canterbury Cathedral, and in 1187 he was appointed treasurer of the priory. The cathedral chapter sent him to King Henry II of England to plead their case against Baldwin of Forde, the Archbishop of Canterbury. After Norreis took Baldwin's side, the Canterbury monks captured Norreis and held him in custody. He escaped by travelling through the sewer and fled to the safety of the archbishop. In a mocking reference to his escape route, Norreis was sometimes called Roger Cloacarius or "Roger the Drain-Cleaner". In 1190 he was appointed to the abbacy of Evesham Abbey (16th-century bell tower pictured). There he was accused of immoral behaviour and failing to follow monastic rules. In 1202 he became embroiled in a dispute with his monks, and in 1213 the papal legate deposed him from the abbacy.
