RESTORATION work at Selby Abbey has been recognised with two prestigious awards.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) awarded the project its Yorkshire White Rose Award, which celebrates excellence in architecture across the region.

The project also won the best repair and restoration award at the annual Natural Stone Awards.

Charlie Forbes Adam, high steward of the abbey, said: “We are delighted to have won these two awards, acknowledging the quality of the restoration.

“The appeal trustees always believed it was important to carry out the work to the highest standards to recognise the abbey’s national historic importance – it was the first monastery to be founded in the north after the Norman Conquest and has been a centre of worship for nearly 1,000 years.”

Since the abbey was ruled at risk of closure in 2000 after it was revealed the stonework was crumbling, the abbey has raised £4.5 million in donations, which has all gone towards the restoration.

The RIBA judges were impressed with the long-term commitment to the restoration. They said: “The architect’s philosophy of utilising a light touch and an understanding of detail is apparent throughout all the phases.”

David Sherriff, the Abbey’s architect, said: “We’re delighted to have won this award; everyone involved worked together extremely well over a period of nine years and we all wanted to do justice to the fantastic medieval craftsmen who came before us.”

The abbey beat Canterbury Cathedral and Chichester Cathedral to the Natural Stone Award, and drew praise for the use of local Tadcaster limestone in the restoration.

The trustees of the abbey have also secured additional funds of about £230,000 to restore the stonework of the abbey’s north porch and to replace the wrought iron gates which were removed many years ago.

This work, outside the scope of the original appeal, will begin in spring 2011 and will be complete by the end of the year.