Edmund Oldhall was an English-born cleric and judge in fifteenth- century Ireland; he was Bishop of Meath

Bishop of Meath

The Bishop of Meath is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...

 and acting Lord Chancellor of Ireland

Lord Chancellor of Ireland

The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...

 .He was a brother of the leading Yorkist statesman Sir William Oldhall.

He was the younger son of Sir Edmund Oldhall and Alice, daughter of Geoffrey de Fransham. The Oldhalls were substantial landowners in Norfolk

Norfolk

Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...

, holding the manors of East Dereham, Bodney

Bodney

Bodney is a village in Norfolk, England.Bodney is recorded in the Domesday Book as Bredenaia. After the Norman Conquest it was held by the de Montfort family. In the fourteenth century Edmund Oldhall , father of the statesman Sir William Oldhall, was lord of the manor of Bodney and it passed in...

 and Narford

Narford

Narford is situated in the Breckland District of Norfolk and covers an area of 970 hectares .Narford village has all but disappeared, with a population of only 41, except for the large 18th century Narford Hall built by Andrew Fountaine, art collector and amateur architect. To the rear of the hall...

. Edmund entered the Carmelite order and became Bishop of Meath in 1450. In 1451 Richard, Duke of York

Richard, Duke of York

Richard, Duke of York may refer to:*Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York , father of Edward IV of England and Richard III of England...

, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland

Lord Lieutenant of Ireland

The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...

 made his son Edmund, Earl of Rutland

Edmund, Earl of Rutland

Edmund, Earl of Rutland was the fifth child and second surviving son of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York and Cecily Neville...

, Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Since Edmund was only eight years old a Deputy was clearly necessary and the appointment was given to Bishop Oldhall, no doubt through the influence of his brother William

William Oldhall

Sir William Oldhall was an English soldier and Yorkist supporter, who served as Speaker of the House of Commons of England between 1450-51.-Life:...

, who was Speaker of the House of Commons

Speaker of the House of Commons

Speaker of the House of Commons can refer to:*Speaker of the House of Commons *Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada*Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons...

 and a key associate of the Duke of York. Edmund acted as deputy until 1454.

He died on 9 August 1459 at his official residence Ardbraccan

Ardbraccan

Ardbraccan is an ancient place of Christian worship in County Meath, Ireland. It is the location of the former residence of the Roman Catholic, then, after the Reformation, the Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath. It is located approximately 30 miles from Dublin.-Origins:Ardbraccan originated as a...

and was buried in St. Mary's Church nearby .An impressive monument to his memory was destroyed in the nineteenth century.