At some time between 1224 and 1238 or 1240 (so this may have been during the reign of a later abbot), Bishop Alexander de Stavensby sanctioned an agreement between the St Mary’s abbot, Henry the vicar of Kirk Hallam, and Hugh de Strelley and his wife to establish a private chapel within their house at Mapperley: this owed fealty to the vicar of Kirk Hallam and there were to be no marriages there and no celebrations on the main feasts, when the Strelleys were to attend their mother church.

Also at an undetermined date, but probably before 1229, Matilda de Salicosa Mara came to live at the abbey when Geoffrey died. Her story will occupy our next chapter.

More conflict, with boundary issues and protective practices, dogged the century: in 1229 the abbot and William, Earl Ferrars, asked the king for a perambulation to be made between their lands in Spondon; and in 1230 the king told William, Earl of Warenne, to let John de Eastring’s ship, which the abbot of Stanley Park had sent to Norway, continue on the Pope's business to Norway (he had arrested it at Lynn). Abbots had an important civic function: Abbot Walter was witness to a grant by Peter de Sandiacre and to a declaration by Philip Marci, party to a covenant with Nicholas, proctor of Dom Octavian, papal chamberlain and chancellor of Southwell, concerning an exchange of lands near Dale for others in Nottinghamshire; he was also grantor of lands in Moorwood, Ashover, to Richard Venator.

Building work must have gone on apace during Abbot Walter’s reign, but there is nothing in the records making mention of this.

Abbot Walter died probably on the 3rd January of an unknown year. His grave slab was found on the north side of the western nave pillar. It had a fine incised cross and an unusually short pastoral staff on the dexter side. It is no longer visible.

Abbot number two:  William
Abbot William ruled two and a half years from April 1231 to October 1233, when he was elected Father Abbot of the Premonstratensian order and chaplain to the Roman Pontiff. He immediately became the Visitor of the order (prior to this, Visitors had been Cistercian Abbots) and inspected the Italian circary. He decreed that lay-brothers should wear grey copes as opposed to unbleached white ones; they appealed to the Pope, but lost. His rule at Prémontré was very stern and austere and he was forced to resign in 1238. He died at Bayham Abbey in Sussex.