Selby's houses and roofs
Selby grew around its great medieval Abbey and the River Ouse, and its roofs reflect centuries of trade. In the town centre, the area around Millgate is a compact pattern of narrow winding streets and yards with pitched pantile roofs and distinctive handmade brick. The Georgian period left The Crescent beside the Abbey and the Park, and streets such as Audus Street, Armoury Road and Brook Street have good examples of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century terraces, many with slate roofs. Beyond the centre, twentieth-century and modern estates bring concrete tiles, bungalows and flat-roofed extensions.
Selby Town Conservation Area
Selby's historic core is a conservation area, centred on the Abbey and including the market place, Finkle Street, Gowthorpe, Millgate and the riverside. Since April 2023 the planning authority for Selby has been North Yorkshire Council, which publishes the conservation area appraisal and design guidance for the town. Selby Abbey and many other buildings in the centre are listed. If your property is listed or in the conservation area, check with North Yorkshire Council before changing roof materials, adding rooflights or altering chimneys – see our listed building roofing page.
Roofing problems we see in Selby
- Pantile roofs – slipped pantiles, failing verges and old torching on the older streets.
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces – nail sickness on slate roofs, shared chimneys and rear-offshoot roofs. See slate roofing.
- Wind exposure – the flat, open land of the Ouse valley means ridges and verges take a battering in storms.
- Gutters and downpipes – overflowing rainwater goods on older properties. See guttering.
- Flat roofs – extensions and garages on the town's newer estates.
Getting to you from York
Selby is about 14 miles south of York by road via the A19, so it's further out than our York villages. We take on work here regularly, and for planned jobs we'll agree a visit time that suits you. For an emergency, call 01904 922494 at any hour – we'll tell you honestly how soon we can be there.
Book a visit in Selby
Quotes are free and in writing. Our hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 8am to 1pm, with 24/7 emergency call-outs on 01904 922494. You can also send us the details online, see typical roof costs, or read about nearby Tadcaster, Bishopthorpe.