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The Praemonstratensian Abbey of St John the Baptist was founded in 1190s, by the de Moulton family. It was a house of the "White Monks", who as Canons undertook preaching and pastoral work in the area within the Cistecian rule of austerity.

Never a wealthy house, the foundation suffered in various wars between the Scots and the English.

Finally dissolved in 1540, the North and East of the Cloister were used as a Manorial house by Robert Strelley. The site came into the hands of John Morritt of Rokeby Hall who lived there from 1770 until a new hall was built at Rokeby. Some parts of the East range were still used to house estate workers until the late 1800s. The Morrit family passed the ruins to the state in 1925.

There is a lengthy description, and a list of the Abbots, in the Victoria County History for York. See Link

The site is a scheduled ancient monument (Link ) and a grade I listed building (Link ). The ruins are under the control of English Heritage (Link ). There is no charge for admittance.