Selby Abbey was founded in 1069, but the original wooden roof was largely destroyed by a fire in 1906.
This walking stick is one of many that were made from the remains of the oak timbers left after the fire was doused. These are treasured objects in many Selby households.
The historical importance lies in two things, one ancient, one modern.
The ancient one is the thought that since these timbers were put in place in the late 11th century, the timber in this stick was probably growing locally at the time of the Norman Conquest.
In more modern terms, the thought that such was the centrality and inportance of Selby Abbey to local life around a century ago that by largely local subscription, sufficient funds and manpower were found to completely renew the Abbey roof and restore it to glory in under three years
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