Dale Abbey

From the Premonstratensian point of view, Dale Abbey was founded in 1204 from Newsham Abbey in Lincolnshire. However, the chronicle of the abbey, which dates from the mid-13th century, gives a long and detailed prehistory. The author of the chronicle was Thomas de Muskham: the initial letters of the various sections of the foundation legend make up the name T. H. O. M. A. S. D. E. M. V. S. C. A. Thomas did not trust in the detective work of later generations, but tells the reader explicitly that his name is in the capital letters of the text. Muskham attributes the first part of the foundation legend to Matilda de Salicosa Mara of Lindsey, a local landowner whom he regarded as foundress of…

In the early days valuable acquisitions continued to come from the families of William FitzRalph and Serlo de Grendon. See the family tree below to identify the relationships between these. William de Grendon, described as the advocate of the abbey, contributed land from the Grendon estates at Ockbrook along with his own body and that of his brother Bertram, William was presumably in minor orders, as priestly celibacy was generally accepted by this time. The six shillings in rents he gave alongside his gift of Deepdale came from the six bovates Geoffrey de Salicosa had obtained from John de Wyburville. William's brother, Serlo de Grendon II, initially gave the abbey land, including woods…