Selby No. 1

No idividual entry for Selby found in the Domesday survey. Moule (1837) writes of a plain font but with a remark on the "magnificent and very lofty cover of carved oak" in Moule (1837). Lewis' Dictionary of 1848 reports: "the font is simple, with a cover of carved wood suspended from the second arch, also on the north side of the nave." Noted in Smith (1881): "The plain circular font, probably brought from the original Parish Church, is worthy pf notice." Listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a baptismal font of the Norman period. Described in Bond (1908) as a baptismal font of the Norman period/style with grooved cylindrical shafts. Bond (ibid.) describes the lid on this font as a fine example of Gothic font cover. Mee (1941) writes: "The Norman font is plain [cf. supra], but has a splendid cover made by crafstmen of the 15th century." The entry for this abbey in the Victoria County History (York, No. 3, 1974) notes: "The abbey of St. Mary and St. German of Selby claimed the Conqueror for its founder, but its origin was due to Benedict, a monk at Auxerre. [...] The date of the foundation charter seems to be fixed at about 1070. [...] The abbey was surrendered on 6 December 1539". Pevsner (1986 c1967) and Harman & Pevsner (2017), too, note the font cover: "Splendid tall Per[endicular] piece. Two octagonal tiers with openwork tracery and a tall crocketed spire." Jenkins (1999) mentions the early Perpendicular cover, which he equates in date and design to the chancel sedilia, the work of Henry Yevele. The entry for this church in Historic England [Listing NGR: SE6156832375] notes: "Parish Church, formerly the church of Selby Abbey, a mitred abbey, one of the three most important Benedictine houses in the north, and (traditionally) the earliest. Founded, according to tradition in 1069. [...] restored in 1871-3 by Sir George Gilbert Scott, and again in 1889-90 by J Oldrid Scott. [...] Font: apparently C12: very plain, circular, moulded base. Font Cover: C15: wooden: very tall and elaborate: three storeys: traceried openings: crocketed gablets, pinnacles and crocketed spire." [cf. Index entry for Selby No. 2 for an ancient stoup in this church]