Visitation records reveal that in 1475 Welbeck had 19 canons and two novices; in 1478 20 canons and three novices; in 1482 and 1488 16 canons and three novices; in 1491 20 canons and four novices; in 1494 19 canons and three novices; in 1497 21 canons and two novices; in 1500 19 canons and three novices. Welbeck surrendered on 20th June 1538; its 15 canons were pensioned off, and the site was sold to Richard Whalley of Shelford for £500. It held land in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Leicestershire, churches in Cuckney, Elkesley, Flintham, Kelham, Littleborough, Whatton, Duckmanton, Etwall, Owston, Cotes-by-Stow and Whitton, and a mill at Langwith.

Abbot Berengar was succeeded in around 1194 by Richard de Southwell, who may have been in charge of the priory-plant at Depedale: the date of this third attempt is estimated as between 1194 and 1196.  

Welbeck sent five canons including prior Benfitz and canon William de Hagnaby, who was prior at St Mary’s Abbey when Thomas de Musca (of whom more later) took the habit. They lasted for five years of misfortunes and were driven out at last by 'bad luck' and poverty. The last straw was an occasion when all the lamps fell down; the priory was then abandoned, in around 1200.

At least, that is one version of events. However, there is in existence a royal charter giving assent to the founding of an abbey in Stanley Park, dated 1st April 1196; in addition, there is material in the Dale Chartulary which implies that the abbey was in at least theoretical existence by 1199. Further confusion stems from the fact that St Mary’s Abbey was founded when one Abbot Lambert was at Newhouse, and he first appears in the records during 1200.

If, as we saw earlier, it is almost certain that Depedale Priory was not on the same site as St Mary’s Abbey, Stanley Park, are we now to assume that in the dying years of the priory, negotiations were afoot to found an abbey, a larger project, just a few yards away? It would appear so.