Selby Abbey
Selby Abbey is one of the relatively few surviving
abbey churches of the medieval period, and, although not a
cathedral, is one of the biggest. Like
York Minster, the church rests on a base of sand and has suffered from subsidence. Many sections collapsed entirely during the
17th century, and further serious damage was done by a fire of
1906 which melted the bells in the central tower. Nevertheless, extensive rebuilding and refurbishment has made the church one of the most impressive in the country. The tower is
Norman, but the eastern end is in Decorated Gothic style, and the west front a mixture of Norman, Gothic and
Victorian.
The interior bears some similarity to that of Durham Cathedral, on which the design was modelled. Richly-carved and moulded capitals are found throughout the church. A major feature is the east window, which contains original medieval glass and depicts the Tree of Jesse, a popular subject of that period. The chancel stonework is thought to have been designed by Henry Yevele.