The History of Meister Omers

Meister Omers may properly be called historic as its strange name has clung to it for nearly 750 years. In 1261 a deed, still in our Cathedral Library, recorded how Prior Roger de St Alphege had taken into custody under his seal a charter, whereby Theobold de Helles granted to Master Omer of Canterbury his lands in the parish of Ash, excepting those in the marsh.

Four years later (1265) Master Omer, now described further as ''Son of William de Bordenne'', added to his estate some land at Lee alongside the property of the monastery in the hamlet of Littlebourne, five miles from Canterbury. Perhaps he left the land to members of his family, for the Omers, Homers or Humers were resident for many centuries in and about Ash.

Even before these transactions took place, in 1249 the Monastic Accounts show that Master Omer was a cleric, being paid a retaining fee for acting as Ecclesiastical Lawyer to the Prior and Monks and also as Official to a non-resident Archdeacon of Canterbury. He must have been both well known and well to do. Meister is short for Magister, a proof that Master Omer was a university graduate.