Complex sentence: A small hamlet existed before the completion of the Abbey in 1128 but it was the arrival of the monks which started the settlement to flourish, many of the monks were skilled craftsmen and they helped the local population as the village expanded.
Split into simpler sentences: A small hamlet existed before the completion of the Abbey in 1128 but the settlement started to flourish with the arrival of the monks. Many were skilled craftsmen, and they helped the local population as the village expanded.