Probably never more than an abbot and 15 canons in the abbey.  1275:  13;  1323:  8;  1381:  11;  1478:  15;  1491:  15 8 of whom were serving outside the abbey;  1500:  16;    (KNOWLES)

c. 1280-90:  building of the western range
c. 1290-1305:  widening of the nave southwards;  of the north transept eastwards, addition of an aisle (GE)

1315 the Scots ravaged Yorkshire, and the abbey’s income dropped from £63 in 1291 to £30.  (GE).  There was billeting of horses in the abbey (THOMPSON).  In 1328 Edward III pardoned them for arrears of taxes of £16 2s 7d levied in his father’s reign. (GE)

Abbey ruined by the Scots in 1323 and the canons were sent off to other abbeys until this one was restored. (KNOWLES)

Lent £20 by Archbishop Melton in 1332

Heavy losses again in 1346 when the Northern barons mustered troops to fight at Neville’s Cross.  1348 Thomas de Rokeby gave them the advowson of Great Ouseburn.  (GE)

1398 Pope Boniface IX gave alms and indulgences (see GE for details)

c. 1400-25:  building west of the reredorter
c. 1475:  pitch of roof throughout church altered;  spiral staircase built between nave and south transept (GE)

1496 exempt from taxes to king because of their ‘notorious poverty’  (GE)

1502 Robert May came as Redman’s deputy (THOMPSON)

Net income c. 1535:  £36 7s 2d   Poorest of the Premonstratensian houses  (GE).  

Due for suppression as a lesser abbey, it was refounded on 30 Jan 1537.  Surrendered on 5 Jan 1540 and abbot received pension of £13 6s 8d, subprior £4, 6 canons £2 each and one of them £1 6s 8d  (GE).

1548 site granted to Robert Strelly (who converted its eastern and northern ranges into a mansion and installed a kitchen in the western range).  Became labourers’ cottages.  In 1905 cloister arcade and north transept destroyed to pave the stable yard at Rokeby Hall.  Some stones were returned by Major Edward Henry Morritt in 1929 and 1936 – also a tomb and an effigy.  Placed in guardianship of the state in 1925.  (Details in GE)