Near Richmond, N. Yorks

Founded as abbey of St Mary and St John the Baptist *c. 1190 (KNOWLES)  *between 1195 and 1198 (GE).  Earliest record 1198 when Ralph de Lenham ratified the grant of the land by his sub-tenant Ralph de *Moulton (KNOWLES)  *Multon (GE).  The latter was probably the founder.  Daughter of Easby.

At first only 3 canons under an abbot, but 9 canons added c. *1200 (KNOWLES)  *1205 (GE) by a conveyance of Gilbert *Lee (KNOWLES)  *de Leya (GE) *who was later accounted founder (KNOWLES)  *The de Multon family counted as founders, and the title passed to the Dacres;  the Dacre arms, 3 escalops argent, were adopted by the canons (GE).

1195:  erection of temporary chapel and quarters for the canons.
c.1195-1205:  building of the church;  plans for a small cloister in proportion to the church
1205:  increase in the number of canons;  plans for the cloister revised to suit a larger community
c. 1205-20:  building of the eastern range;  northern range and west cloister laid out;  provision made for lengthening the nave
c. 1225-30:  northern range and west cloister wall completed
c. 1240-50:  rebuilding of the presbytery (GRAHAM)

Late 12th century buildings.  Clapham says the cloister was on the N side, which is a mistake – he has confused it with Easby.  Church much enlarged in 13th and 14th centuries.  See VCH Yorks, N. Riding, I, p.110 (CLAPHAM)

Early in the 13th century the abbot of Premontre deputed 3 of the English abbots to hold an enquiry and decide if the abbey should be reduced to a priory, its endowment being so small.  It wasn’t, but it remained poor.  (GE)

c. 1205-20:  building of the eastern range;  northern range and west cloister laid out;  provision made for lengthening the nave
c. 1225-30:  northern range and west cloister wall completed
c. 1240-50:  rebuilding of the presbytery
c. 1270-80:  rebuilding of south transept with provision for a south aisle to the nave;  vaults inserted in the reredorter and northern range (GE)

1272 a chantry for 6 chaplains, to be supplied from Egglestone, was founded in the chapel of Richmond Castle. (KNOWLES)