It was first established at Barlings Grange but was soon moved to its present site, previously called Oxeney[2] in Lawress Wapentake of the West Riding of the Parts of Lindsey.

[4] By the mid-14th century the canons are known to have been in considerable financial trouble and even by 1412 when there were twenty-seven in residence, they were maintained with difficulty due to continued poverty and debt.

[4] During the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey became involved in the uprisings against this act and the abbot, Matthew Mackarel,[5] said to have been one of the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace in Lincolnshire, and six of the canons were subsequently hanged and quartered.

The supposed complicity of Abbot Mackarel, like that of other heads of religious houses, gave Henry VIII the opportunity of laying hands upon the Abbey of Barlings and of placing it under the law of attainder.

Sir John Rochford (or de Rochefort) (c.1355-1410) constable of the Bishop of Ely's castle at Wisbech, Cambs and his wife Alice (daughter of Sir Hugh de Hastings) are believed to have been buried at the abbey (he left a will dated 20 October 1410, proved 14 Dec. 1410, requesting burial at Barlings Abbey, Lincolnshire, next to his late wife, Alice).