A group of monks, including Robert, were expelled from York and established a monastery in a valley near Skeldale, on land given them by Archbishop Thurstan in winter 1132.

Their fame brought a new novice, Hugh, Dean of York, who relinquished all his wealth to the community, who built more suitable facilities.

[2] About 1138 he headed a group of monks sent out from Fountains to establish Newminster Abbey near the castle of Ralph de Merlay and his wife, Juliana, daughter of Gospatric II, Earl of Lothian, west of Morpeth in Northumberland.

During his abbacy three colonies of monks were sent to found new monasteries at Pipewell in Northamptonshire (1143), Roche in South Yorkshire (1147), and Sawley in Lancashire (1148).

Doubt has been cast upon the truth of the story, which may have arisen from a desire to associate him personally with the greatest of the Cistercians.

[3] A number of parishes are dedicated to St Robert of Newminster including those in Morpeth, Northumberland;[4] Fenham, Newcastle upon Tyne;[5] Ada, Michigan[6] and Shorewood, Wisconsin.

St Robert of Newminster Catholic School in Washington, Tyne and Wear is named after him.

There is a St Robert of Newminster Parish and Primary School in Aberkenfig, Bridgend South Wales.