Selby has a tradition as a centre for local agriculture, and the River Ouse and the Selby canal are reminders of Selby’s former position as one of Yorkshire’s busiest trading towns.

One of the town’s best known assets is probably its Abbey which was founded in AD1069. Whilst construction began shortly after the Norman conquest, its foundation is said to originate with Germain, a French noblemen and soldier, who was born around AD378. The Abbey’s 14th century Washington Window with its three red stars above two red bands on a white shield are the charges on the Washington family coat of arms and the model for the American Star Spangled Banner.

Modern day Selby is changing. A new bypass has cut out much heavy traffic and provided the opportunity to appreciate some of Yorkshire’s finest architecture, which together with new leisure and shopping developments complements Selby’s traditional Monday market.