The History Of Selby, Its Abbey, And Its Masonic Associations.

building finally completed . It was in John de Heslyaton ' s time that the new choir was begun . In one of the deeds still preserved there is a gift from the Vavasour family relating to the Selby " Quarel" Pit , ancl the abbey wasfortunate in having so near at hand the excellent quarries of Fryston and Hillam , from which all the stone was brought . In 1341 , Wm . de Gaddesby followed , who held the office for twenty-six years . He completed the choir ; and in his

time the noble decorated nave of the collegiate church of Howden was built , and also Wressle Castle , a seat of the great Percy family . He was also a great engineer , and made a sluice over the Trent near Hatfield Chase , where the abbey had lands . He also erected a fortified manor house at Staynor . In the time of Abbot Aslaghby a controversy had arisen as to the rights of the Abbot of Selby in the adjoining church of St . Mary at Snaith . This lasted

over 100 years , and in the time of Abbot John de Sherburne , the successor of Abbot de Gaddesby , A . D . 1409 , received its final settlement , which , on the whole , was in favour of Selby , for by the decree of Richard Potts , Chancellor and Commissary of the Archbishop of York , it was decreed that the Church of Snaith , with Selby and Whitgift , together with their chapels on them depending , and also the Churches of Athelingfleet and Brayton were canonically

united to the Abbot and Convent of Selby , who should hold them with all manner of spiritual ancl contentious jurisdiction in the said church ancl town of Snaith , ancl the chapel of the town and territory of Selby , and in Frieston , Hillam , Hambleton , ancl of their men and servants of Thorpe Brayton and Ajastor , and also the probates of testaments and last wills of parishioners , parsons , inhabitants , and others dying within these places , ancl officiating administrators of the goods of the said deceased , and of other dying intestate

within the said places , all which was duly confirmed by the Dean and Chapter of York . This was the origin of the Peculiar Court of Selby , which ultimately became confined to the Parish of Selby and Brayton , and was also confined as to its jurisdiction , ancl was finally abolished on the passing of the Probate Court Act in 1857 , the late Mr . J . R . Mills , of York , who onl y died at few months ago , being the last registrar . Amongst the last wills proved therein was that of Mr . Michael Welburnthe last Custom-house officer of the

, port of Selby . Abbot Sherburne ' s tombstone of alabaster is in the chancel of the Abbey . In his time was Ralph de Selby , one of the most distinguished men that Selby ever boasted , for in A . D . 1386 he was made Sub-Dean of York ; in 1390 Master of King ' s College , Cambridge ; in 1393 Baron of the Exchequer , and also a Commissioner to attend a truce in France ; in 1398 one of the King ' s Council . Passing over some forty yearsthe next important abbot is John

, Onsethorpe , A . D . 1436 , in whose time the last important addition to the fabric of the church was made , the eastern aisle being added to the north transept on the endowment of a chantry there by John Lathom . He reigned over the abbey twenty years . In the time of his successor , Abbot John Sharrow , most likely the large perpendicular window in the north transept was added . The next abbot , Lawrence Selby , was buried on the 3 rd of April , 1504 , in

front of the high altar . His tombstone still remains , and is remarkable for the fact that , except on the roof of the chapter-house , it is the only place where the arms of the monastery are to be found . Robert Deeping , the next abbot , 1504 , added some buildings to the south-west of the abbey buildings , which remained until this present century . The tomb of the last abbot but one ( John Barwick , 1526 ) still remains , and you will find it in front of the hi gh altar , and is a remarkable one ; he is habited in full canonicals and holds his crozier in his hands .

This , then , is a brief account of some of the most famous abbots , most of them remarkable men in their time . Had they no other claim for our gratitude , they deserve our everlasting thanks for the noble pile they reared . Perhaps here a description of the Abbey buildings , as they are supposed to have been at the time of the Reformation , may not be considered out of place .