Hugh, first dean of York, was appointed by archbishop Thomas I before December 1093. He was present at a royal council at Gloucester on 25 December 1093 and visited Fountains Abbey with archbishop Thurstan on 9 October 1132. It was this abbey to which he retired as old and infirm, to become a Cistercian monk, in 1135 - he was also a benefactor to it and founded its library.