Egglestone Abbey was founded in 1195 for Premonstratensian canons. Unlike other similar religious houses it maintained a small number of monks and remained poor, so much so that an enquiry was held to determine if it should be downgraded to that of a priory. It suffered at the hands of marauding Scots during the 14th century and often benefited from the exemption of taxes in order to survive.  

The empty stone table-tomb under the crossing is that of Sir Ralph Bowes. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was converted into a mansion house and later into farmworkers’ dwellings.