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| A general view of Selby Abbey |
When I started out with my exploration of mediaeval churches in and around South Yorkshire, it was with the hope of making further connections with archaeologists and architects, who work with historic churches and would appreciate my specialist skills as a geologist, or perhaps others who would value my photography and writing for updating church guides etc.
Apart from a few local history groups, who have been interested in my findings and have invited me to give illustrated talks for them, the response has generally been very poor. Following a recent request by the vicar to photograph, unpaid, a perceived defect in the doorway to St. Helen’s church that would be forwarded to the structural engineer in London for his assessment – which the appointed architect failed to do - I realised that I was not onto a good thing.
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| An illustrated talk for the Aston-cum-Aughton Local History Group |
Apart from a few local history groups, who have been interested in my findings and have invited me to give illustrated talks for them, the response has generally been very poor. Following a recent request by the vicar to photograph, unpaid, a perceived defect in the doorway to St. Helen’s church that would be forwarded to the structural engineer in London for his assessment – which the appointed architect failed to do - I realised that I was not onto a good thing.
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| The external arch to the south door of St. Helen's church in Treeton |
Having already experienced this with Rotherham MBC, who wanted me to continue to provide my geological conservation expertise for free, when they now had statutory responsibilities for their Local Development Framework, I made my feelings quite clear on this matter with various members of the church responsible for the upkeep of its fabric.
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| The internal arch to the south door of St. Helen's church |
In the best part of 3 years previously, I had done a lot of practical work for the church, as well as organising their Heritage Open Days and participating in many events; however, although I had put my name down for a coach trip to Northamptonshire – to formally welcome the vicar to his new parish - I had no qualms whatsoever when I decided to have a day out to Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire instead, just for my own pleasure.
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| Welcome to Selby Abbey |
Breaking my general rule, to travel solely using my travel pass to minimise costs, I decided to take a train to Doncaster, from where I would purchase a return ticket; however, when showing my pass to the conductor and asking to pay for a valid ticket, my request was kindly waived and I ended up travelling to Selby for free.
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| The superficial geology around Selby |
As always, I planned my trip by having a look at the geological map of the area, which prepared me for the identification of the local building stones, if any, that I might encounter when exploring the historic architecture of the town. The Triassic Sherwood Sandstone bedrock, which is soft and doesn’t provide building stone, is covered by the unconsolidated Quaternary Breighton Sand Formation, upon which Selby Abbey is set, and which lies above the Thorganby Clay Member.
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| A view of the central tower of Selby Abbey |
Getting off the train, and wandering around the riverside, the central tower of Selby Abbey soon came into view above the surrounding buildings and, from a distance of 200 metres, I immediately concluded that it was dolomitic limestone from the Permian Cadeby Formation - with its massive ashlar blocks and distinctive pale yellowish colouration - which is 15 km away.
During research after my trip, however, I have read that all of the stone was believed to have been sent to Selby along a specially constructed waterway from Monk Fryston, which is actually set on the Brotherton Formation. From my experience of seeing this formation a little further south in Doncaster, where it is generally very pale, thinly bedded and laminated, often fissile and considered only suitable for basic walling, this came as a great surprise.
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| The bedrock geology between Selby and Monk Fryston |
During research after my trip, however, I have read that all of the stone was believed to have been sent to Selby along a specially constructed waterway from Monk Fryston, which is actually set on the Brotherton Formation. From my experience of seeing this formation a little further south in Doncaster, where it is generally very pale, thinly bedded and laminated, often fissile and considered only suitable for basic walling, this came as a great surprise.
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| The market cross in Selby |
Walking quickly around Selby Conservation Area, apart from a section of walling near to the river, the market cross and a modern war memorial in Selby Park, which are also dolomitic limestone, the rest of the historic buildings I saw are essentially constructed from brick, with Carboniferous sandstone and Jurassic Ancaster limestone being seen in various dressings.
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