Selby Abbey: Tours to offer glimpse into mysterious history of towers

Tower tours are planned to give visitors a rarely seen aspect of the historic Selby Abbey on Sundays through the summer. Words by Ruby Kitchen. Pictures by James Hardisty.
Ruby Kitchen
By Ruby Kitchen
Published 9th Jul 2023, 06:00 BST
Updated 9th Jul 2023, 08:08 BST

A riveting mystery shrouds Selby Abbey’s imposing old tower with its hidden chambers and winding stone stairs.

Now with a sneak peek behind the scenes - and up to the very top with stunning views – a rare glimpse is shared into its history.

Selby Abbey is opening up its tower for tours on set dates this summer. Hidden within, despite fires and a once mighty collapse, there are the inner workings of the abbey itself.

Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire, is planning to open up their Tower Tours once again on Sundays throughout summer, including the ringing room, clock room, bell chamber and the incredible views from the roof of the Central Tower. Pictured Andrew Twineham, Verger and one of the Bell Ringers stood in the Ringing Room of Selby Abbey. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty.Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire, is planning to open up their Tower Tours once again on Sundays throughout summer, including the ringing room, clock room, bell chamber and the incredible views from the roof of the Central Tower. Pictured Andrew Twineham, Verger and one of the Bell Ringers stood in the Ringing Room of Selby Abbey. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty.
Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire, is planning to open up their Tower Tours once again on Sundays throughout summer, including the ringing room, clock room, bell chamber and the incredible views from the roof of the Central Tower. Pictured Andrew Twineham, Verger and one of the Bell Ringers stood in the Ringing Room of Selby Abbey. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty.

First comes the bell ringing chamber, where the magic happens, then up to the vast clock mechanisms above. Climbing higher, there’s the great bells themselves, before a final ladder - opening to a trapdoor on the roof - takes viewers to the very top.

Canon John Weetman, on the tightly winding spiral stairs, said it can get a little claustrophobic. For those that persist, the views are well worth the climb.

“Clearly the monks who built and used the tower originally would have been smaller than we are now,” he said. “It is great to be able to open it up.

“People never come down disappointed. It’s the whole experience, with the stairwell and different chambers.

Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire, is planning to open up their Tower Tours once again on Sundays throughout summer, including the ringing room, clock room, bell chamber and the incredible views from the roof of the Central Tower. Pictured Andrew Twineham, Verger and one of the Bell Ringers on the roof of the Central Tower of Selby Abbey. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty.Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire, is planning to open up their Tower Tours once again on Sundays throughout summer, including the ringing room, clock room, bell chamber and the incredible views from the roof of the Central Tower. Pictured Andrew Twineham, Verger and one of the Bell Ringers on the roof of the Central Tower of Selby Abbey. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty.
Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire, is planning to open up their Tower Tours once again on Sundays throughout summer, including the ringing room, clock room, bell chamber and the incredible views from the roof of the Central Tower. Pictured Andrew Twineham, Verger and one of the Bell Ringers on the roof of the Central Tower of Selby Abbey. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty.

"There are those who have done it before, and half remember it from their childhood. Others, doing it for the first time, like looking for their own house.

“People tell us that in years gone by the tower would just open on Bank Holidays and people could go up on their own.

"Of course that’s not allowed these days, we do escorted tours.”

The original Norman tower, built around 1069, collapsed in 1690. Then in 1906 it was “gutted” by a ravaging fire, acting as a chimney to dispel smoke and flames. Verger Andrew Twineham said those four numbers keep repeating in dates.

Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire, is planning to open up their Tower Tours once again on Sundays throughout summer, including the ringing room, clock room, bell chamber and the incredible views from the roof of the Central Tower. Pictured Andrew Twineham, Verger and one of the Bell Ringers in the Belfry of Selby Abbey.Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire, is planning to open up their Tower Tours once again on Sundays throughout summer, including the ringing room, clock room, bell chamber and the incredible views from the roof of the Central Tower. Pictured Andrew Twineham, Verger and one of the Bell Ringers in the Belfry of Selby Abbey.
Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire, is planning to open up their Tower Tours once again on Sundays throughout summer, including the ringing room, clock room, bell chamber and the incredible views from the roof of the Central Tower. Pictured Andrew Twineham, Verger and one of the Bell Ringers in the Belfry of Selby Abbey.

He is sure it is “just a coincidence”, while the next round won’t return for thousands of years.

Still, in the workings of the tower the marks left behind can plainly be seen. The original stone, nearly 900 years old, remains at the base on one side while the other is in red brick.

High above, the biggest bell weighs in at one-and-a-quarter tonnes. The clock mechanism, hand wound, is similar in style to Westminster and Big Ben.

“It’s an exploration,” he said of the tours. “It’s not something many people get to see. And even in bell ringing circles, our ringing chamber is seen as something special. It’s a working place – very much a tower in use.”

Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire, is planning to open up their Tower Tours once again on Sundays throughout summer, including the ringing room, clock room, bell chamber and the incredible views from the roof of the Central Tower. Picture An old photograph of Selby Abbey Bells and Ringers, dated 1906 - The Bells were destroyed by the Fire on October 20th 1906. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty.Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire, is planning to open up their Tower Tours once again on Sundays throughout summer, including the ringing room, clock room, bell chamber and the incredible views from the roof of the Central Tower. Picture An old photograph of Selby Abbey Bells and Ringers, dated 1906 - The Bells were destroyed by the Fire on October 20th 1906. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty.
Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire, is planning to open up their Tower Tours once again on Sundays throughout summer, including the ringing room, clock room, bell chamber and the incredible views from the roof of the Central Tower. Picture An old photograph of Selby Abbey Bells and Ringers, dated 1906 - The Bells were destroyed by the Fire on October 20th 1906. Picture By Yorkshire Post Photographer, James Hardisty.

Mr Twineham, himself a bellringer, is one of the volunteers who helps to guide groups on tours. Earlier this week he went up, to the sight of York Minster shining in the sun. There was a special surprise, with a rare glimpse of the White Horse at Kilburn.

“We can quite clearly see the mast at Emley Moor, and the Wolds,” he said of the view.

“We’re smack bang in the middle of the Vale of York, all those surrounding hills and churches... people do quite like seeing their supermarket. And then how much things have changed.”

Tours are to be held on set days this summer, weather dependent, on July 22, September 9 and 30. Places must be pre-booked, and restrictions apply.