A History of the County of Durham: Volume 2. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1907.
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'Colleges: Norton', in A History of the County of Durham: Volume 2, (London, 1907) pp. 127. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/durham/vol2/p127 [accessed 26 April 2024]
33. THE COLLEGE OF NORTON
The date of the foundation of the college at Norton is unknown. (fn. 1) The earliest authentic mention of it occurs in the Patent Rolls of 1227, when, the see of Durham being vacant, the king presented to prebends in Norton Collegiate Church. (fn. 2) At and after that date it consisted of eight prebends, and so continued until the dissolution. In 1291 these prebends were valued at £6 per annum, but the total value in 1534 was £4 6s. 8d. each, or £34 13s. 4d. the whole; (fn. 3) and in 1548 the total yearly value is given as £48. (fn. 4) The stipends arose from part of the tithe corn of Norton parish. (fn. 5) The successive vicars of Norton appear to have acted as heads of the college, but did not bear the title of dean.