Bishop Redman who compiled the report brought to St Mary’s a William Gyll or Gylling and a George Littleport who were under punishment. Canon William had been subcellarer at Coverham Abbey in 1475, and in 1478 he had brought a woman into the canons’ dormitory for immoral purposes; he was purged of that sin and became vicar of Downholme in 1482; in 1488 he was still at Coverham. He was ordered to St Mary’s Abbey for punishment, but this was suspended at the next provincial chapter, in April 1492, when he was sent permanently to Sulby Abbey; he is recorded as being there in 1494, 1497 and 1500. Canon George, alias William or John, had been a canon of West Dereham Abbey, recorded there in 1475 and 1478 and as sub-cantor n 1482; he was convicted of theft, among other things, and ordered by the provincial chapter of September 1489 to be sent to St Mary’s. He was still living laxly and irreligiously in 1491, so he was ordered to be sent to Beauchief Abbey; he was still at Beauchief in 1494.

Abbot number 18:  Richard Nottingham
Abbot Richard ruled for 19 years from October 1491 to 1510. His career is recorded in Visitation reports: in 1478 he was circator, in 1480, sub-prior, and from 1485 to 1491 he held the vicarage of Heanor. During his reign the chancel clerestory was built: this necessitated the removal of the steeply pitched roof, and substituting a flatter one; most of the original dogtooth ornament also seems to have been removed in this process.

Abbot Richard seems to have been a compassionate man. It is recorded on 28 October 1491 that he provided very adequately for his aged predecessor: 20 marks per annum, extensive rooms, fuel for heating, candles, a chaplain for daily service, food, eight flagons of best beer per week; food for two servants (one man, one boy); pasturing and stabling for two horses; all home comforts - spoons, salt-cellars, furniture and bedding - to revert to St Mary’s Abbey on his death. It appears that John Stanley lived out his remaining years in the Chaddesden Chamber.

In 1494 canon Edward Hampton was sent to Durford Abbey in Sussex for 40 days’ gravioris culpae and five years’ detention for fathering a child; he disappears from St Mary’s records. The Visitation Report of May of that year shows that there were 16 canons: George Slee was now a deacon and servitor infirmorum; Robert Aston was sub-prior (other authorities say he was sacrist); John York alias Wytton now circator; William Lammas cantor; Thomas Stanley still novice master; Richard Blackwall now sacrist; deacon John Bebe now sub-sacrist; Ralph Stanton/Porter/Makarelle whose post is not mentioned; novices Geoffrey Glossop and John Spenser. Out serving the local churches were the other Richard Nottingham, still vicar of Ilkeston, John Monyash vicar of Kirk Hallam, Richard Bredon now vicar of Heanor and William Blackburn now chaplain of Stanton.