Abbot of Tavistock was the title of the abbot of Tavistock Abbey in Devon, England. The name of the first abbot is unknown, but the abbey was founded between 975 and 980.[1] Unless otherwise specified the details in the following table are from Heads of Religious Houses: England & Wales 940–1216.[1]
| Name | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| unknown | c.975 | First abbot |
| Ælfmær | 994–c1009 | Became bishop of Selsey |
| Lyfing of Winchester | c.1009–1027 | Became bishop of Worcester |
| Aldred | c. 1027–c. 1043 | Became bishop of Worcester |
| Sihtric | c. 1043–1069 | Became a pirate[2] |
| Geoffrey | c. 1082–c. 1088 | |
| Wimund | before 1096–1102 | Deposed by the Synod of Westminster in 1102 |
| Osbert | ?–before1131 | |
| Robert of Plympton | c. 1131–1145 | |
| ?Roger | c. 1146 | |
| Robert Postel | c. 1146–1154 | |
| Walter of Winchester | c. 1154–c. 1168 | |
| Godfrey | c. 1168–c. 1173 | |
| Baldwin | 1174–1184 | |
| Herbert | 1186–1200 | |
| Andrew | 1200–1202 | |
| Jordan | c. 1203–1219/1220 | |
| William of Kernit | 1220 | |
| John of Rofa | 1224 | |
| Alan of Cornwall | 1233 | Previously prior of Tresco[3] |
| Robert of Kitecnol | 1248 | |
| Thomas | 1248 | |
| Henry of Northampton | 1257 | |
| Philip Trencheful | 1259 | |
| (vacant) | 1259 | Appointment lapsed to Walter Branscombe, Bishop of Exeter.[4] |
| Alured | 1260 | |
| John Chubbe | 1262–1269 | Deposed by Bishop Branscombe[5] |
| Robert Colbern | 1270 | |
| Robert Campbell/Champeaux[6] | 1285–1325 (died) | "Of the abbots in the later monastic period ... probably ... the greatest and wisest" |
| (vacant) | 1325–1328 | Dispute between two candidates, Robert Busse and John Courtenay (eldest son of Hugh de Courtenay, 9th Earl of Devon) |
| Robert(?) Bonus[7] | 1328—1333 (excommunicated) | Bishop Grandisson said of him "That Abbot's name was Good, but he was a scoundrel, a near-heretic!"[8] |
| John Courtenay | 1334 | Suspended by Bishop Grandisson for maladministration[9] |
| Richard Esse | 1349 | |
| Stephen Langdon | 1362 | |
| Thomas Cullyng | 1380 or 1381 | The last of five abbots after Campbell who were all accused of waste, extravagance and neglecting their spiritual duties. |
| John Mey | 20 July 1402 | [10] |
| Thomas Mede | March 1422 – April 1442 | [11] |
| Thomas Crispyn | 11 June 1442 – 5 April 1447 | [12] |
| William Pewe | 2 May 1447 – 26 December 1450 | |
| John Dynyngton | February 1451 – December 1490 | [13] |
| Richard Yeme | February 1491 – c. March 1492 | [14] |
| Richard Banham | 1492–1523 | [15] |
| John Peryn | 1523–1539 | Last abbot[16] |