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Selby Abbey
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Selby Abbey
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Selby Abbey
Conservation and repairs to an 11th Century Abbey
Location:
North Yorkshire
Client:
Selby Abbey
Building Period:
11th Century
Awards:
Natural Stone Award for Craftsmanship (Commended)
RIBA Yorkshire White Rose Award for Conservation
Natural Stone Award for Repair and Restoration
Selby Abbey was the first monastic house to be established in the North of England after the Norman Conquest and was included in the World Monument Fund’s 100 most endangered buildings list in 2001. We have worked on six key phases of the building’s stone conservation and roofing to protect its splendid Romanesque Nave, West Front and 14th Century Choir, developing a rolling programme of repairs funded by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund to complete all the most urgent works, maximizing the resources of a small PCC with limited funds.
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A quinquennial inspection identified that the Abbey was in need of a great deal of repair and prioritized those repairs in a practical and sensible way to address the most urgent work and to make best use of the sources of funding. The collapse of a pinnacle on the central tower heightened concerns about the safety of the masonry.
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Selby Abbey
1.A quinquennial inspection identified that the Abbey was in need of a great deal of repair and prioritized those repairs in a practical and sensible way to address the most urgent work and to make best use of the sources of funding. The collapse of a pinnacle on the central tower heightened concerns about the safety of the masonry.
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The works prioritised the most urgent repairs, beginning with the central tower pinnacles and parapets followed by the West Front. The next priority was the Choir as it has more vulnerable detailing (pinnacles and gargoyles).
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Selby Abbey
2.The works prioritised the most urgent repairs, beginning with the central tower pinnacles and parapets followed by the West Front. The next priority was the Choir as it has more vulnerable detailing (pinnacles and gargoyles).
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Work to the Choir has included careful conservation treatment to the parapets themselves and the remarkable fourteenth century figures that sit on them. We minimised the loss of original fabric through a careful conservation approach.
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Selby Abbey
3.Work to the Choir has included careful conservation treatment to the parapets themselves and the remarkable fourteenth century figures that sit on them. We minimised the loss of original fabric through a careful conservation approach.
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In some instances, the stones were too poor to retain and we worked closely with conservators to decide which stones to renew. Repairs to the Choir took place over six phases.
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Selby Abbey
4.In some instances, the stones were too poor to retain and we worked closely with conservators to decide which stones to renew. Repairs to the Choir took place over six phases.
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We selected for replacement only the very worst figures where the majority of the stone had eroded. We sourced the stone from the original quarry used for the Abbey’s construction.
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Selby Abbey
5.We selected for replacement only the very worst figures where the majority of the stone had eroded. We sourced the stone from the original quarry used for the Abbey’s construction.
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We worked closely with a specialist carver to research and understand the scheme for the original figures before developing designs for some replacements.
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Selby Abbey
6.We worked closely with a specialist carver to research and understand the scheme for the original figures before developing designs for some replacements.
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With each phase of work we developed a much better understanding of the Choir’s construction and what we were likely to find behind the stones. This allowed for more accuracy in predicting the likely repairs and costs.
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Selby Abbey
7.With each phase of work we developed a much better understanding of the Choir’s construction and what we were likely to find behind the stones. This allowed for more accuracy in predicting the likely repairs and costs.
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The ongoing programme allowed for close monitoring of recently finished work and we saw a gradual improvement in the interior. Repairs to the exterior walling improved the surface appearance and reduced water ingress which helps to reduce the internal salting.
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Selby Abbey
8.The ongoing programme allowed for close monitoring of recently finished work and we saw a gradual improvement in the interior. Repairs to the exterior walling improved the surface appearance and reduced water ingress which helps to reduce the internal salting.
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Dividing the work into manageable phases made the best use of the funding available, ensuring that a larger proportion of the money could be spent on the actual repair work rather than on management and access costs.
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Selby Abbey
9.Dividing the work into manageable phases made the best use of the funding available, ensuring that a larger proportion of the money could be spent on the actual repair work rather than on management and access costs.