Selby

The town of Selby is dominated by Selby Abbey which was founded by Benedict in 1069 and subsequently built by the de Lacy family. It is one of the largest parish churches in the UK and is larger than several cathedrals. A notable feature of the Abbey is the 14th century Washington Window, featuring the heraldic arms of the ancestors of George Washington, the first president of the United States. The design featuring three red stars above two red bands on a white shield is said to have been the model for the US flag.

[edit] Modern Selby

Selby is expanding to become a large town, with new job prospects at the European Science Park in Burn [1] and the expansion of the town as far as the bypass, although this has resulted in the loss of some trade from the town centre. New houses and shops are being built on the present town outskirts. Meanwhile the riverfront area is being revamped with modern housing and fashionable apartments.

[edit] Industry & economy

Much of the historical wealth of the town is based upon its position upon the banks of the tidal River Ouse. In the past, Selby had large shipbuilding and mining industries. The current Greenpeace craft bearing the name Rainbow Warrior was built in Selby in 1957 [2]. Although much of the infrastructure of each remain both in and around Selby, both industries have long since been defunct. Present day, the main income for the area is derived from arable farming and the commuter areas of Leeds, Wakefield, and York.

For a time, Selby was the leading coal mining area in the UK and featured some of the most advanced mining technology in Europe. It was the first new mine in the UK for decades and seen as a rejoinder to widespread concern that the British mining industry was effectively shutting down, particularly following the defeat of the UK miners' strike (1984-1985).

Wistow Colliery, which was part of the Selby Complex, holds the UK record for coal mined in one week — 200,743 tonnes in 1995. The 110 square mile (285 km²) Selby Complex, employing 3,000 miners plus contractors and ancillary staff, closed on Friday 14 May 2004 despite rising demand for coal in the UK. UK Coal, the pits' owner, said closure was due to rising costs caused by deteriorating geological conditions and the falling price of coal. In its final years, the company listed a £30 million loss on the plant.

[edit] Development

There has been a large amount of development and renovation within the town and the surrounding area in recent years.

[edit] Selby Bypass

In July 2001 construction began on the Selby bypass having been authorised in 1993 for development. The bypass runs from the A19 at Barlby along the southern edge of Selby, connecting onto the A63 at Thorpe Willoughby. The project was delayed due to technical difficulties with the swing bridge over the River Ouse but was eventually completed in July 2004.

[edit] Retail

In recent years, Selby has seen the development of new shopping areas both in the town centre and on the outskirts. The Abbey Walk shopping centre was developed on recreational land that runs parallel to the town centre. The expansion not only increased the volume of town centre shops but also provided large scale, convenient parking for the town centre. In more recent years, the Three Lakes retail park has opened on the outskirts of town and continues to expand with more developments under construction.

[edit] Residential

The residential areas of Selby have also been subject to expansion and development. A large amount of new houses and apartments have been developed in the Holmes Lane area along with more at various points along the riverfront. The latter is the result of an ongoing project to improve an area that had been largely derelict since the decline of the shipbuilding industry. More housing is currently under development on the south side of town between the Three Lakes retail park and the bypass.

[edit] Technology

On 14th September 2005, Selby District Council was conditionally granted outline planning permission for a state of the art science facility [3] to be built on the site of Burn Gliding Club.

[edit] Floods

In recent years there have been serious flood problems in Selby and the adjoining village of Barlby. The threat in the Barlby area has been alleviated to some extent by work on improved flood barriers following the major flood of November 2000.

[edit] Selby rail crash

The town of Selby is negatively associated with the so-called Selby rail crash, which happened a few miles south of Selby at a village called Great Heck near the M62 motorway. On February 28, 2001, a vehicle crashed off the M62 down an embankment on to a railway track, where it was struck by an oncoming passenger train heading to London. The accident was then compounded by a second collision involving a freight train. Neither train was travelling to, from, or through Selby and the driver of the vehicle involved in the incident had no connection with Selby, but Selby is the closest major town to the accident site.

[edit] Hobson murders

Selby and its surrounding area came to national prominence once again through another tragedy on 18 July, 2004, this time through four exceptionally violent murders carried out by former binman Mark Hobson. Hobson, 35, killed his girlfriend Claire Sanderson, 27, and her twin sister Diane at a flat in the nearby village of Camblesforth. He subsequently murdered an elderly couple, James and Joan Britton, at their home in the village of Strensall, near York. At his trial, Hobson made English legal history by becoming the first murderer to receive a whole-life tariff on his sentence even though he pleaded guilty to all four murders.

[edit] Selby Town Hall

Selby Town Hall is regarded as being one of the best live venues in the area (as officially recognised by winning the Yorkshire Evening Post's Nightlife Award). Selby Town Council has been running this venue since 2003, with regular performances of music, dance, drama and comedy.

[edit] Sport

Selby's major sporting team is Selby Town Football Club, playing in the Northern Counties East Premier Division and based at Flaxley Road Stadium.

Rugby union club Selby RUFC and rugby league club Selby Warriors are based at Sandhill Lane Stadium.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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Category: Towns in North Yorkshire

Selby

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Contents

[edit] History