Part 1 - The Great North Road
From London, the traveler to the north would normally go via St. Albans, Northampton and Nottingham - very much the route of the current M1. From there, the road turned east to join the course of the A1 at Newark. Next came Doncaster and Pontefract, and then Tadcaster and York. From York the road followed the present day A19 via Thirsk and Northallerton to Durham. If York was by-passed the route from Pontefract would be via Wetherby and Boroughbridge.
This was the route taken by Richard II in 1385 and 1396, and in 1448 by Henry VI on his only journey north of the Trent - although Henry turned off for York at Sherburn-in Elmet.
In 1332 the Warden of Merton College Oxford also turned off at Sherburn-in-Elmet to reach York via Cawood - residence of the Archbishop.
The Gough map of around 1360 shows the main route north being via Hertford, Peterborough, Stamford Grantham and Newark, then as above. However, a road from York to Howden is also shown.
The existence of the road is confirmed by a reference in the miscellaneous inquisitions for 1343, where it is noted
"The king's highways leading from Houeden to York and from Selby to York are very often flooded so that nobody can pass "
and 120 acres of land at Skipwith are said to be flooded, which suggests the route the road took.
Part 2 - Bishop Langley goes North
Thomas Langley became Bishop of Durham in 1406, probably at the age of 46. He was a long time servant of the house of Lancaster. John of Gaunt granted him the church of Castleford and made him the executor of his will. He was kings clerk to Henry IV, and keeper of the signet - one of the royal seals. He was Archdeacon of Norfolk in 1399, Dean of York in 1401, as well as receiving the income from several prebends. In November 1401 he was appointed keeper of the Privy Seal - at that time, a sure sign a bishopric awaited him. In 1404 he became Chancellor, the highest position in the royal administration.
In 1405 Henry IV wanted Langley to become archbishop of York, and the chapter of the minster duly elected him. However, the see was vacant because Henry had executed the previous incumbent for treason. The pope refused to accept the royal nomination, so Langley was unable to take office. He finally became Bishop of Durham in 1406.
The bishops register can be used to create an itinerary of his travels, as documents are sealed with a place as well as a date. What follows is an account of his travels that took him into Howdenshire.
1407 - travels to Durham for his enthronement. Stays at Wheel Hall.
1408 - spends new year at Bishop Auckland. Returns via Wheel Hall and Selby
1408 - in Yorkshire in late March with the king after the Earl of Northumberlands defeat at Bramham Moor. Langley stayed at Howden, the king at Wheel Hall. Langley met a French embassy at Pontefract in April, returning to Howden afterwards. After a tour of Yorkshire he undertook a visitation of the convent of Durham. Finally he was at Wheel Hall after convocation in York during December
1409 - new year at Wheel Hall. Absent from the country most of the year, returning to his diocese in December with a stay of two days in Wheel Hall.
1410 - London to Durham via a possibly extended stay (June 30 - July 12?) at Wheel Hall. In York for convocation October then Wheel Hall and back to London. Bishop Auckland via Wheel Hall for Christmas and new year
1411 - possibly in Howden on January 20th, but at Bishop Auckland on the 14th and 24th - could this be Howden-le-Wear? In Howden February 1st, returning to London from Bishop Auckland via Crayke and Sherrif Hutton. Back to Bishop Auckland via Howden. In April. London again, then Howden in late December on the way to Bishop Auckland
1412 - Howden January 24-28 after convocation in York then London. Durham via Wheel Hall in March, Howden in August.
1413 - after Christmas at Bishop Auckland, London via Wheel Hall (January 22). In Howden October 6-8 between York and London
1414 - from now on, heavily involved in foreign affairs in the lead-up to the renewal of the war with France
1415 - in Howden August 21st on the way to Durham. Return via Wheel Hall October 11-15
1416 - Wheel Hall July 29, Howden December 22-24
1417 - Howden on January 12 after convocation in York, and again in early March on the way south
1418 - Howden on August 1st, after a year away from his diocese. Howden again September 30th, on his return south.
1419 - in London all year
1420 - Howden September 30th between York and Chipping (Saffron) Walden.
1421 - Howden in early April - with Henry V and a Scottish embassy - then Lincoln. Wheel Hall September 24-28 after Convocation in York.
1422 - Henry V dies
1423 - Howden July 30/August 1 then September 28th. Middleham and Raby castles in between.
1424 - Howden March 11,12
1425 - Howden July 3 on his way to Scotland.
1426
1427 - Howden October 3
1428 - Howden April 18 after a visit to Leconfield
1429 - Howden September 12 - he was ill at this time
1430
1431 - Howden January 14,22 between two long stays in Bishop Auckland. Howden again on October 20th and December 16
1432
1433 - Howden October 6th
1434 - Howden October 6th, again November 26th
1435 - Howden May 10th, September 24th
1436 - in diocese
1437 - at Bishop Auckland until death on November 20