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Byland Abbey: History
Byland Abbey: Buildings
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Foundation
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. |
