Selby Abbey, Selby North Yorkshire Phases 3, 4, 5 & 6

Stone Repairs by Quibell Group Stonemasonry & Restoration Division

Phase 4 to 5 of the restoration of Selby Abbey (Jan 2003 to April 2006) for which we are proud to have won a commendation for craftsmanship at the 2006 Natural Stone Awards Ceremony in London. These phases of restoration were primarily concerned with the repair of the stonework to the North, East & South Elevations of the Chancel of this important historical building. All three phases were undertaken by Quibell Stonemasonry & Restoration and required an unusually high volume of carved & complex masonry that we are proud to have executed ourselves.

The stone used for the repair was Tadcaster High-moor magnesian limestone which has been used on the abbey and many other local buildings for centuries.

The work included a very few mortar repairs, some dentistry repairs and a significant amount of glazing & lead work, but the vast majority of the £1.2 million was spent on complete replacement of entire stones.

Briefly including the following amongst many many more specialist masonry items:

• 12 sculptured ¾ life sized parapet figures
• 2 large gargoyles
• 2 portraits of a retiring Archbishop of York & his successor incorporated as carved label stops
• Dozens of items of fine tracery
• Several hundred carved crockets to pinnacles, turrets & Gablets
• Elaborate carved window capitals
• 20 to 70% renewal of 4 crocketed & octagonal stair turrets
• Complex buds & finials
• Dozens of carved heads to hood stones & label stops

We are currently nearing completion on Phase 6 the Scriptorium which began in January 2007 this has involved an ever greater number of stone renewals than any other previous phase of the project.