GLORIOUS RELIC RUINED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

GLORIOUS RELIC RUINED.

SELBY ABBEY DESTROYED BY FIRE.

PEOPLE IN TEARS PRAY FOR HELP. Sklbv AiinET has been transformed in a night from one of the most beautiful of England's historic buildings into a mass of smouldering ruins. Fire broke out in the early hours of the morning in the Latham Chapel, in which a new organ was being erected at a cost of £1400. The outbreak was discovered by the organist. Mr. F. W. Bvkes, Mus.'Bac., who resides at the Abbey House, to the north-east of the mcjent"structure. In a very short time the flames bad enveloped the whole of '-he chapel. The organ builders were working till eleven o'clock at night, and it was only ■■'■ little over an hour after this that the fire was discovered. The Selby Fire Brigade did their best, but it was obvious from the first that, with their one small engine, they had no chance of arresting the fire'.' Other engines were summoned from Leeds and York, and the awaiting crowd, many of whom were moved to tears, knelt and prayed that help might come quickly. But meantime the north transept was attacked, its great Window glowing with an uncanny light, and at last falling in with a crash of splintered glass. Shortly after the roof and that of the Latham Chapel collapsed. A westerly wind carried the tongues of fire steadily towards the choir, which was restored some years ago at a cost of £10,000. and by halt-past one the lead was running from its roof in molten rivers. Thus before the two engines sent from York and one from Leeds arrived the choir had suffered badly. A beautiful window on the north side, erected by Mr. William Liversedge, one of Selby's oldest residents,' had been burnt out, and the roof was a blazing mass of timbers. And when help did arrive it was impossible to arrest the flames. By eight o'clock the aboey was a total ruin, notnirig but bare walls remaining of what had been one of the veryfew monastic buildings still in use inlthe country. None of the fittings have been saved,"but the records of the building have been preserved. The line tower was considerably damaged. The belfry fell, the magnificent peal of eight bells being melted, and falling into the debris beneath. Lord Wenlock visited the ruins subsequently, and promised to interest himself in promoting a county, if not a national restoration fund.