Editing Selby (section)

===Development===
The town of Selby is on the main route north from the [[English Midlands|Midlands]] and is the traditional birthplace of [[Henry I of England|King Henry I]], fourth son of [[William the Conqueror]], in 1068/69;<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.selby.gov.uk/service_main.asp?menuid=&pageid=&id=1474
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614113455/http://www.selby.gov.uk/service_main.asp?menuid=&pageid=&id=1474
|archive-date=14 June 2011
|title=Your 'Excellent' Council
|publisher=Selby District Council
|access-date=12 June 2009
}}
</ref> the connection is supported by William and his wife [[Matilda of Flanders|Matilda]]'s unique joint charter of [[Selby Abbey]], far to the north of their usual circuit of activities, which was founded for [[Selby Abbey|Benedict of Auxerre]] in 1069<ref name=":0">[[C. Warren Hollister]], ''Henry I'' (Yales English Monarchs) 2001:32f.</ref> and subsequently supported by the [[de Lacy]] family. King [[Henry I of England|Henry I]] is reputed to have been born there in {{circa|1068}}. A notable feature of the abbey is the 14th-century Washington Window, featuring the [[Coat of arms of George Washington|heraldic arms]] of the ancestors of [[George Washington]], the first [[president of the United States]]. The design is often cited as an influence for the [[Flag of the United States|Stars and Stripes]] flag.

It is said that the abbey was founded when Benedict saw three swans on a lake in Selby, which he took as a sign of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and that is why the official crest of Selby Abbey is three swans.<ref>However a more likely explanation is that the three swans – symbols of purity – represent the triple dedication of the Abbey Church to Our Lord, Our Lady and St Germain.
{{cite web
|url=http://www.selbyabbey.org.uk/history.htm
|title=Abbey History – One of England's Best Churches
|publisher=selbyabbey.org.uk
|access-date=12 June 2009
}}
</ref> Selby Abbey was closed in 1539 as part of the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]] under [[Henry VIII]] and the majority of the buildings have since been demolished.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/content/articles/2009/05/13/selby_archaeology_feature.shtml
|title=North Yorkshire – History – Selby's past revealed
|publisher=BBC
|access-date=22 June 2009
}}
</ref> The central nave of the abbey church survived and in 1618 it became the parish church of Selby.

During the [[English Civil War]] the Royalist garrison of Selby was captured by Parliamentarians in the [[Battle of Selby]] on 11 April 1644.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.information-britain.co.uk/famdates.php?id=327|title=The 11th of April 1644 AD, Battle of Selby, famous dates in History
|publisher=information-britain.co.uk|access-date=12 June 2009}}</ref> There are other historical sites, such as the [[cholera]] [[burial ground]] on the north side of the abbey,<ref name="guide">{{cite book|last=Selby Civic Society|title=Selby. A brief guide to places of interest.|publisher=Selby Civic Society|location=Selby|year=1998<!--|access-date=20 July 2009-->}}</ref> the market cross and the local school, [[Selby High School]]. The Market Place has existed since the early 14th century, when the market was moved away from the monastery churchyard. [[The Crescent, Selby|The Crescent]] which curves eastwards from James Street, was planned in the early 19th century by a local man, John Audus, after he saw [[Lansdown Crescent, Bath|Lansdown Crescent]] in [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], [[Somerset]].<ref name="guide"/>