Observations on the Romanesque Crossing Tower, Transepts and Nave Aisles of Selby Abbey

The church of Selby Abbey forms a remarkable survival of the great Benedictine monastery to which the town of Selby owes its existence. The abbey was founded in 1069 by Benedict, a monk from Auxerre, who absconded from his own monastery and travelled to Selby, guided it is said by visions of St Germanus. Whatever the truth behind the visions, it is clear that the new abbey was situated on crown lands and soon obtained patronage from William the Conqueror and many of the newly established Norman lords. The early post-Conquest date of its foundation made it the first of the new Norman abbeys in the north, and no doubt the king was quite willing to grant lands to help this early outpost of the Norman church, one which may have helped to secure his grip on the north of England. 1