Selby Abbey - The 13th & 14th Centuries

A general view of Selby Abbey

The Early English Gothic period of architecture runs approximately from 1180 to 1275, and is mainly distinguished from the Norman or Romanesque period that it follows, by the development of pointed arches, which are stronger and enable thinner walls, and the use of lancet windows. 

A view of the west front of Selby Abbey

At Selby Abbey, the west front provides an example of this style, which is described as mature Early English by Pevsner, with its various lancet windows, dog tooth decoration and sunk trefoil windows set into the blank arches - including the five stepped lancets to the central gable.

A general view of the porch on the north elevation

On the north elevation, the porch was built not long after the Norman west front, and shows both a round headed arch and a frieze with pointed arches to the blank arcade, along with moulded capitals to the shafts. Although the gate was locked and I couldn't take a good photo, it has a quadripartite rib vault, which is another characteristic of the Early English style. 

A view of the north elevation of the clerestory and the north aisle 

The north side to the clerestory has single lancet windows, which is repeated on the south, but the aisle windows, except for the single Norman west window, have late Geometrical tracery with quatrefoils that are assigned to the late 13th century and falls within the early part of the Decorated Gothic period – approximately 1280-1350. 

A general view of the north elevation of the chancel

Moving west beyond the transept to the chancel, the windows are still considered to be Late Geometrical, but the circled quatrefoil tracery, the mouldings to the window jambs and the associated half shafts and capitals are a lot more robust. Pevsner considers that these are probably earlier than those of the north aisle and I noted that they have been heavily restored. 

A general view of Selby Abbey from the north-east

To both sides of the chancel clerestory, and the east window, the window tracery changes from the rigid Geometrical form to a more experimental flowing variety that is considered to be representative of the later Decorated Gothic period. 

Tracery on the south elevation of the chancel

The south aisle of the chancel again reverts to a Geometrical style that appears intermediate to that of the north aisle and the clerestory, with the inclusion of reticulated tracery. I couldn't discover how long it took to build the chancel from start to finish, but the changes that take place in the tracery provide the buildings archaeologist with a means to sequence the building works. 

The sacristy

Further changes in the style of tracery can be seen when following the south elevation westwards, with the two storied sacristy having cusped and stepped lancet lights to the ground floor and simple Decorated Gothic two-light windows above. 

A general view of the south elevation of the nave and south aisle

Finishing an anticlockwise walk around the abbey, to look at its various styles of windows and tracery from the 13th and 14th centuries, the south aisle of the nave possesses yet another variation. This time, an early Decorated Gothic style of a similar age to the north aisle are composed of three cusped lights, with a pointed cinquefoil above.

A general view of Selby Abbey