Selby United Charities

James Audus*

The almshouses are located on Gowthorpe, Selby, in Feoffees Square and Audus Square. James Audus (1781-1867), responsible for the building of the second Square was the son of John Audus, creator of The Crescent in the town. 

He moved from Ratcliffe to live in the town after the opening of the Air and Calder Navigation to Selby. Besides helping his father in modernising the market place and the new route the toll bridge, James, a generous man with time, talent and money, took on many roles during his long life. He became a senior justice of the peace for the Liberty of Selby, presiding over many petty sessions of the Court he had had built in New Lane. For 25 years he held the rank of senior captain of the York and Ainsty local militia, consisting of 1200 men of which the Selby volunteers became a part in 1808. He held many offices in the town including treasurer to the Foeffees. 

In 1833 Audus paid for ten small dwellings, for poor widows or aged persons, built on the charity's land on Gowthorpe. The inscription 'Natalis loci sun amores monument' implies that the properties were built out of the love of his birth place

James Audus, in his eighties, was still being a benefactor to the town. Although a member of Selby Abbey Church he set his mind on having a church in Selby for ordinary people 'where no pew rents were paid or status in worldly terms important'. To that end he had St. James the Apostle Church built on his land between New Lane and the bottom of Audus Street. At the age of 85 he laid the foundation stone but sadly, he died in May 1867. The following September the church was consecrated. 

In 1871, the widow of James Audus enabled the 'Audus Memorial School' to be built near the church.