Newhouse Abbey in Lincolnshire (reputedly in a small wood east of the lake in Brocklesby Park, but untraceable by me and my husband who had a good prowl around the area in the summer of 2013) was the first Premonstratensian house in England, founded by Peter de Gausela (as a daughter house of Liques and dedicated to St Mary and St Martial, the latter of whose relics were procured in 1163) in 1143. It had eventually 11 daughter houses, of which St Mary’s Abbey was the youngest. Newhouse always retained the right to supervise the election of a new abbot at St Mary’s Abbey, and had the right of visitation for correction here.
The influx of Newhouse canons was led by Walter de Senteney, who was to become the first abbot. The eight other canons included John de Byford (a friend of Peter de Gausela who founded Newhouse Abbey), Roger d'Alesby of pond fame, William le Sores and Hugh de Grymesby. The new foundation owned Stanley village, as we have seen, and properties in Alvaston and Ockbrook. It was also endowed with the advowson of the churches of Heanor, Ilkeston and Kirk Hallam.
Building must have gone on apace, as St Mary’s Abbey, Stanley Park was consecrated on the 15th August 1204. A statute of Newhouse Abbey decreed that a new abbot should not be sent to a daughter abbey until it had an oratory, a dormitory, a guest chamber and a porter’s lodge, so presumably these were in place by 1199 or thereabouts, when the first canons arrived. This casts a shadow of doubt over the recent archaeologists’ statement that no part of the current ruin dates from before 1200; a little leeway would seem to be sensible.
A list of , undated, to the abbey has survived: those named as benefactors are Ralph Hanselin, Ralph FitzGeremund (who may be the same person as Ralph de Hanselin), William FitzRalph, who gave properties in Alvaston, William (who gave all his lands in Ockbrook) and Serlo de Grendon, Serlo II de Grendon, who gave land in Ockbrook including Boyah Grange, Hugh FitzRalph, Robert de Muschamp, Tukes, Philip de Touke, who gave land in West Leake and Sandiacre, Henry de Bolton, Richard de Stapleford, Robert de Lexington, Nicholas de Chevercourt, William de Saumara, who gave lands near Brassington (probably four bovates in Kniveton), Williams de Aldwerke, de Burguylim and de Bathley, Richard de Croxton, Robert Wurm, Geoffrey and Roger de Salicosa Mara (who gave three bovates of land in Stanton), the Trowells and Strelleys, Matthew and Henry de Chaddesden, and Sir Richard de Sandiacre, who gave the right of patronage of Kirk Hallam church, a site for a quarry, adjoining lands and a mill. This last endowment was confirmed by his son John, who gave other bits of their land. William de Grendon’s gift included Borrowash Mill, itself granted to William by Peter Pycothe, Lord of Borrowash, with the alders on its island, for the repair of the millpond, for the rent of 2s. in silver per annum.