Dale
Title
Dale
Also Known As
Dala, Depedale, La Dale, Parcus, Parcus Stanlae, Parcus Stanleyae, Stanlaw, Stanley, Stanley Park, Stonley
Dates
Founded ca. 1185; dissolved 1538
Dedication
Mary
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Lichfield (or Chichester?)
Circary
History
By tradition, Dale Abbey was founded on the site of a pre-existing hermitage. William FitzRalph, seneschal of Normandy, his daughter and son-in-law Matilda and Geoffrey de Salicosa, were the key founding figures. For much of the Middle Ages, the abbey was prosperous, deriving much of its income from livestock rearing and wool production.
Dale Abbey was suppressed in 1538. Much of the monastic complex's stone was robbed out in subsequent years.
Dale Abbey was suppressed in 1538. Much of the monastic complex's stone was robbed out in subsequent years.
Heads of Community
Abbots
Henry I, 1175-1196
Walter de Senteney (or de Todeni), 1200-1231
William I, 1231-1233
John I Graincourt (or Grauncorth), 1233-1253
Hugh of Lincoln, 1253-1268
Simon, 1268-1273
Lawrence Teuren, 1273-1289
Richard I de Normanton, 1289-1297, 1305
John II of Lincoln, 1297-1303
John III Horsley, ca. 1305-1332
John IV Woodhouse, 1332
William II Horsley, 1332-1354
Roger de Kirkton (or Kyrketon), 1354-1358
William III de Bovey (or Bonay), 1358-1400
Henry II Monyash, 1400-1439
John V Spondon, 1439-1472
John VI Stanley, 1472-91
Richard II Nottingham, 1491-1510
John VII Bebe (or Stanton), 1510-1538
Henry I, 1175-1196
Walter de Senteney (or de Todeni), 1200-1231
William I, 1231-1233
John I Graincourt (or Grauncorth), 1233-1253
Hugh of Lincoln, 1253-1268
Simon, 1268-1273
Lawrence Teuren, 1273-1289
Richard I de Normanton, 1289-1297, 1305
John II of Lincoln, 1297-1303
John III Horsley, ca. 1305-1332
John IV Woodhouse, 1332
William II Horsley, 1332-1354
Roger de Kirkton (or Kyrketon), 1354-1358
William III de Bovey (or Bonay), 1358-1400
Henry II Monyash, 1400-1439
John V Spondon, 1439-1472
John VI Stanley, 1472-91
Richard II Nottingham, 1491-1510
John VII Bebe (or Stanton), 1510-1538
Status
Abbey
Archival Sources
Kew, The National Archives
C 1/145/36 (Late 15th/early 16th c.)
E 321/42/145 (1536-1554)
E 322/68 (1538)
E 326/12697 (1544/45)
E 329/333 (1514/15)
SC 13/R17A (1519/20)
SC 13/R17B (1520/21)
SC 13/R17C (1522/23)
London, British Library
Cotton Vespasian E. XXVI. (13th-16th c.; cartulary)
London, Lambeth Palace Library
Shrewsbury Papers, fols. 164-165
Matlock, Derbyshire Record Office
D258/7/1/11 (1360)
D258/7/1/18 (13th c.)
D258/27/1/14 (1342/3)
D258/27/1/16 (1348)
D258/27/1/24 (1257)
D258/27/3/2 (1516/17)
D258/27/4/10 (ca. 1300)
D518M/T3 (1271)
Northampton, Northamptonshire Archives Service
F(M) roll/269 (1545/46)
Nottingham, Nottingham University Library, Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections
Mi 2/63/6, 71/50, 72/16 (16th/17th c.)
Mi 2/71/50 (1568)
C 1/145/36 (Late 15th/early 16th c.)
E 321/42/145 (1536-1554)
E 322/68 (1538)
E 326/12697 (1544/45)
E 329/333 (1514/15)
SC 13/R17A (1519/20)
SC 13/R17B (1520/21)
SC 13/R17C (1522/23)
London, British Library
Cotton Vespasian E. XXVI. (13th-16th c.; cartulary)
London, Lambeth Palace Library
Shrewsbury Papers, fols. 164-165
Matlock, Derbyshire Record Office
D258/7/1/11 (1360)
D258/7/1/18 (13th c.)
D258/27/1/14 (1342/3)
D258/27/1/16 (1348)
D258/27/1/24 (1257)
D258/27/3/2 (1516/17)
D258/27/4/10 (ca. 1300)
D518M/T3 (1271)
Northampton, Northamptonshire Archives Service
F(M) roll/269 (1545/46)
Nottingham, Nottingham University Library, Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections
Mi 2/63/6, 71/50, 72/16 (16th/17th c.)
Mi 2/71/50 (1568)
Reference
Bibliography
Allen, Roger N., and Ruth Allen. Dale Abbey: A Short History and Guide. Derby: Moorley’s Print & Publishing, 2012.
Borough, R.F. “The Lay-Bishop of Dale.” Journal of the Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society 63 (1942): 91–98. https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-2300-1/dissemination/pdf/063/DAJ_v063_1942_091-098.pdf.
Burton, R.J. “A Literal Transcript of the Earliest Register of Dale Abbey, Derbyshire.” Journal of the Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society 22 (1900): 91–128. https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-2300-1/dissemination/pdf/022/DAJ_v022_1900_091-128.pdf.
Colvin, Howard M. “Dale Abbey - Granges, Mills and Other Buildings.” Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 60 (1939): 129–41. https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-2300-1/dissemination/pdf/060/DAJ_v060_1939_142-155.pdf.
———. “Dale Abbey: A List of Canons.” Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 61 (1940): 12–25. https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-2300-1/dissemination/pdf/061/DAJ_v061_1940_012-025.pdf.
———. “Dale Abbey: Its Foundation.” Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 61 (1940): 1–11. https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-2300-1/dissemination/pdf/061/DAJ_v061_1940_001-011.pdf.
———. “Excavations at Dale Abbey: Interim Report.” Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 59 (1938): 87–94. https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-2300-1/dissemination/pdf/059/DAJ_v059_1938_081-094.pdf.
———. “Medieval Glass from Dale Abbey.” Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 60 (1939): 129–41. https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-2300-1/dissemination/pdf/060/DAJ_v060_1939_129-141.pdf.
———. “The Dissolution of Dale Abbey.” The Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 64 (1943): 1–25. https://doi.org/10.5284/1066025.
———. “The External History of Dale Abbey.” The Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 62 (1941): 58–87. https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-2300-1/dissemination/pdf/062/DAJ_v062_1941_058-087.pdf.
———. “The Internal History of Dale Abbey.” The Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 62 (1941): 31–57. https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-2300-1/dissemination/pdf/062/DAJ_v062_1941_031-057.pdf.
Cox, J.C. “Report on the Excavations at Dale Abbey.” The Derby Mercury, October 23, 1878.
———. “The Chartulary of the Abbey of Dale.” Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 24 (1902): 82–150. https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-2300-1/dissemination/pdf/024/DAJ_v024_1902_082-150.pdf.
Drage, Christopher. “Dale Abbey: The South Range Excavations and Survey, 1985-87.” The Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 110 (1990): 60–92. https://doi.org/10.5284/1066514.
Fox, Samuel. “Dale Abbey, Derbyshire.” The Reliquary 8 (1868): 193–206. https://books.google.com/books?id=RrVDAQAAMAAJ.
Page, William, ed. “Houses of Premonstratensian Canons: The Abbey of Dale.” In A History of the County of Derby, 2:69–75. London, 1907. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/derbs/vol2/pp69-75.
Saltman, Avrom. The Cartulary of Dale Abbey. Historical Manuscripts Commission 11. London: Her Majesty Stationery Office, 1967.
St John Hope, W.H. “On the Recent Excavations on the Site of Dale Abbey, Derbyshire.” Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 1 (1879): 100–115. https://books.google.com/books?id=vQEVAAAAQAAJ.
Ward, John. Dale and Its Abbey, Derbyshire: A Short History and Guide. Derby: Bewley and Roe, 1890. https://books.google.com/books/about/Dale_and_its_abbey_Derbyshire_a_short_hi.html?id=qBoVAAAAQAAJ.
Image Credit
Ruins of Dale Abbey, 2009. Wikimedia.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Dale,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/60.