Building in stone began under William, the first abbot, probably after 1135/6, the year that work began on rebuilding the mother abbey at Clairvaux,France. The abbey lies in a wooded dale by the River Rye and was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1538. At that time there were said to be 72 buildings occupied by an abbot and 21 monks, attended by 102 servants, with an income of £351 a year.