The Byland community had originally been founded
from Furness, but poor relations with its mother-house meant that
in 1141 the monks decided to put themselves under the direct authority
of Savigny. Abbot Gerold therefore travelled to the general chapter
at Savigny to subject his community to the mother-house.
This was intended to block any future claims to authority over
the monastery
by Furness or, more importantly, any claim to their resources,
for the community at Hood had attracted a number of recruits and
resources. These included prominent members of Robert
de Mowbray’s
household, who joined as lay-brothers. One, Henry Bugge, was appointed ‘custos
operis’, which meant that he was in charge of building
work.(17) Gerold’s subjugation
of his community to Savigny inevitably provoked controversy and
led to considerable hostility.(18) Gerold
died at York in February 1142, on his return journey from the chapter
meeting. His body was brought to Hood, where he was buried.
The
site at Hood was considered too small for the expanding community,
and Gundreda persuaded her son to find the monks a larger site.
In September 1142 Roger de Mowbray granted them the vill and church
at Old Byland (Byland on the Moor), with everything pertaining
to it.(19) Old Byland lay four
miles to the north of the present site and the community moved
here in 1143, under the direction of their
new abbot, Roger.
The monks’ lands at Hood were left to the
Augustinian Canons of Bridlington to establish a new community
here.