Rogers Close is in Quidhampton.

This could be named after the landowner or developer of the time when the Close was developed.

Bishop Roger

Alternatively it may be that the name of the close is a tribute to ‘Roger of Salisbury’ who was Bishop from 1102 to 1139.¹

Roger of Salisbury seems to have been a politician priest. He was close to King Henry I, who made him Chancellor in 1101. There is a story that Roger made a good impression on King Henry, by getting through Mass very quickly ².

Henry came to rely heavily on Roger – he managed the treasury, and was appointed regent in Henry’s absence from 1123 to 1126 ³.

After Henry’s death Roger’s change of allegiance from Mathilda to Stephen ‘was crucial to Stephen’s success’ in succeeding Henry.

At the start of King Stephen’s reign Roger maintained much of his power and influence, but in 1138 Roger was suspected of being about to change his allegiance back to Mathilda. He was tried for treason at Winchester, and, although he was released a cloud hung over him. He died on 11 December 1139.

He was buried in the Cathedral at Old Sarum, but his remains were moved to the new Cathedral in 1226.

Footnotes

1. Roger of Salisbury – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [↩]
2. Oxford DNB article: Salisbury, Roger of [↩]
3. Oxford DNB article: Salisbury, Roger of [↩]