Hugh de Balsham

Hugh de Balsham (or Hugo; died 16 June 1286) was a medieval English bishop.

Life Nothing is known of Balsham's background, although during the dispute over his election he was alleged to have been of servile birth, and his name suggests a connection with the Cambridgeshire village of Balsham. He was a Benedictine monk at Ely, and appears first as sub-prior of the cathedral chapter there. On the death of William of Kilkenny in 1256 the monks elected him Bishop of Ely, to the annoyance of King Henry III of England and Boniface of Savoy, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Boniface declared the election invalid, and attempted to install Adam Marsh in the see. Both sides appealed to Rome. He was present at the Parliament held at London in June 1264 that set up the government of Simon de Montfort. Much of Balsham's time was spent in repairing damage done to his diocese by various people, first the royal administrators during the election dispute, and then later some of the baronial supporters who occupied the Isle of Ely in 1265. The bishop issued statues for his diocese, and worked to improve the administration of the diocese. He promoted the cult of Ethelreda, the local saint of Ely. Gifts to the monks of the cathedral chapter as well as to churches in his diocese contributed to his reputation as a good bishop. the first Cambridge college. He left 200 pounds to the college in his will. at the manor of Doddington on the Isle of Ely. He was buried in Ely Cathedral on 24 June 1286. A monumental brass in the church at Balsham, Cambridgeshire, supposedly depicts the bishop.