To return again to Ralph FitzGeremund. Ralph had a daughter, variously called Maud, Margery or Margaret. She married a man called Serlo de Grendon, Lord of Bradley and Sturton, and she brought the moiety of the vill of Ockbrook and Depedale with her as dowry. Serlo lived at Boyah, which is just over the hill from Dale, to the south-east, a mere half-mile or so from the Abbey site; there is still a farm at Boyah, and recent investigation of a field to the north of the farmhouse has indicated that there were once other buildings under what are now the humps and hollows of the field.

Serlo de Grendon was therefore the brother-in-law of William FitzRalph, and he served as deputy Sheriff of Nottingham and Derby from 1177 to 1180.  This was indeed a famous and powerful family, but such was the cost of founding a successful priory that even they could not manage it, their two attempts failing: more of that later, too.

Serlo married twice, his second wife being Maud, a lady of Selston. He had five sons and three daughters: Bertram de Grendon, who was to become a canon of St Mary’s Abbey, William the Clerk, who was educated at the University of Paris and oversaw the building of Harestan Castle near Coxbench; he married Ermentrude Talbot, Fulcher, who was involved in the siege of Nottingham Castle in 1193, Jordan, Serlo II, Joanna, mother of Walter de Stretton, Isolda, mother of Eugenulf de Brailsford, and Agatha who seems to have inherited at least some of Serlo’s estate. He also had illegitimate children, notably Robert, who married Matilda, a lady of Snelston (does this sound suspiciously like Serlo’s second wife, and might it be somewhat garbled?) and had sons Andrew de Grendon, his heir, and Ralph, lord of Boylestone and Leaveland. Serlo was known as a knight of eminent valour and great wealth.

Serlo de Grendon’s aunt and godmother came to hear of her nephew’s father-in-law’s meeting with the Hermit, and took an interest in him, also being impressed by his piety. Serlo gave this lady, generally known as the Gomme (godmother) of the dale, Depedale and the hermitages [sic] and the land 'between the lane that extends from the North gate of Boyha towards the west as far as le Cockeysithe and Brunsbroc.’ A field above and to the south of All Saints’ church is called Cockshot, the farmhouse east of the Malthouse near Boyah was called  Burnwood, and the brook through Ockbrook is called Barnes' brook (although a 13th century charter says Brunesbroc is between Kirk Hallam Park and Stanley Park, so presumably in the area to the north of Boyah and the east of Dale Abbey). Whatever the detail, this is a substantial tract of land and incorporates Depedale, technically the southern half of the valley in which Dale Abbey is now situated.