Anyway once I get to Selby there is no problem at all with finding the Abby because it is this huge cathedral towering over everything else. It is not as big as either Duhram or York Minster, but it is still a lot bigger than anything I am accustomed to in the States.
Turns out the abby was built in the 11c, then was abandoned in the 16c, later renovated as it began to fall apart, then in 1906 there was a huge fire which burnt the thing up pretty bad. The only thing saved was the Baptismal Font, which the Sheriff and his son rushed in to save while the building was a raging inferno (cool story). Therefore everything is new except the stone structure itself. The woodwork inside is beautiful, but hard to get on camera because the church has poor lighting and is like a big cave. Also the stain glass is all 20c- but it is still really pretty. One panel in particular is based off the design of a 15c window that was in its place. The contrast in styles is pretty obvious. The Abby was really pretty though, and I am glad I went. I felt there was a lot more mixing of the new with the old in this one, as a final opinion. Below are some links to the 11c Norman Abby.
Now for those interested, I made it back in time for the party, but I had a hard time assembling all that I would need for my costume. I decided to go as the Crow because... well... because the Crow is one of the coolest dead dudes around, and I always wanted to dress up as the Crow. The two women I escorted to the party are both Phd students in Medieval Studies, and the party is at a Graduate House inhabited by mostly all Medieval Studies students. The two women went as those two women from Scooby Doo- Daphne and... Thelma? It has been a long time since I watched Scooby Doo.
I guess I did a good job with my makeup- which took me almost two hours to do! Most people recognized me right away, while others thought I was a KISS band member. At the party, I had people wanting to have their picture taken with me, and when walking to the party a lot of people pointed and liked the make-up job. The party was great, I had a wonderful time, and I got home pretty late. Anyway- check out pictures from the Abby.
