Selby - Abbey

The first church on the site of Selby's Abbey belonged to a Benedictine house founded in 1069 - the first major abbey to be established after the Norman Conquest. The present church, dedicated to St Germanus, was begun in 1100. The central tower collapsed in 1690, damaging the south transept, and both were later rebuilt. After a fire in 1906 caused extensive damage, work began in 1909 to restore the church to its original appearance. Its finest features are the late Norman west front and the north doorway. The east half of the nave is Norman, the west half Transitional. The Decorated choir (1280-1340) is particularly beautiful. Other notable parts are the richly-decorated great east window depicting St Michael, a 14th century Jesse window and the "Washington Window" (14th century) in the choir, showing the coat of arms of the family from which America's president George Washington was descended.