Q What is the origin of Selby Abbey and how did one of the Kings of England come to be born there? - C Chapman, Northallerton.

A A French monk called Benedict of Auxerre founded the abbey at Selby in 1069. The story of how he came to establish the abbey is something of a mystery as it seems that it has its roots in a vision.

Saint Germain, a French saint, who was born around 378 AD, appeared to Benedict in a vision at Auxerre Abbey and instructed Benedict to go to a place in England called Selabaie.

Benedict travelled to England in 1066 and brought with him the preserved finger of St Germain. He arrived at Selby where three swans are said to have landed near the River Ouse as he approached.

Benedict took this as a sign that this was the place for his abbey. However it was a prominent oak tree that attracted Benedict to a particular location in Selby and he set up a wooden cross under the tree.

This would become the site for the abbey, which was built in typical Norman style with herringbone masonry. Its internal architecture bears a strong resemblance to Durham Cathedral.

Selby Abbey was begun in 1069. In 1068 William the Conqueror was subjugating the north which had rebelled against him.

The Conqueror's wife, Matilda was staying at Selby and gave birth to Prince Henry. Henry would become King Henry I, succeeding another of William the Conqueror's sons, King William Rufus, in 1100.

Henry I is said to have taken some interest in the building of the abbey during his reign.

According to one story, two monks were found guilty of stealing precious items from the Selby treasury. Their punishment was severe and they were both castrated. The incident seems to have affected the morale of the community of monks building the abbey and they considered abandoning the project altogether.

King Henry I intervened and insisted that they continue.

In the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII, most of the Selby monastery was destroyed and it was officially closed on December 8, 1539.

The abbey church was spared probably because the abbot had allowed the church to be used by the townspeople. The central nave survived and in 1618 it became the parish church of Selby.

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