Charlene, Simon and Aimme visit Roche Abbey. Roche Abbey is a now-ruined abbey in the civil parish of Maltby, South Yorkshire, England. was founded in 1147 by a Cistercian brotherhood who had traveled down from Newminster Abbey at Northumberland. Although they arrived in the valley in 1140, for several years they lived without a proper dwelling until the local lords offered to build them an abbey. "roche" means "rock", and popular folklore has it that a vision of the crucifix appeared on a certain rock close by and inspired the monks to settle here. The abbey was originally known as the abbey of Santa Maria de Rupe. Although it has been said that no dead were ever buried at Roche Abbey (and that instead they were carried to Blythe Priory to be interred) Les Halford, employed in the abbey house, explained that this is not strictly true. There is a small number of graves belonging to local landowners who bequeathed money to the abbey in their lifetime, on the condition that, after their deaths, the monks would pray for their souls.