Selway's business was based in Bloomsbury. He was resident in Walworth in 1873, when he became a member of the Metropolitan Board of Works nominated by Vestry of St Mary, Newington. He held the seat until its abolition in 1889. Deputy Chairman of the Works and General Purposes Committee of the Board of Works [1] He was a prominent member of the Congregational Church, and was a science lecturer at The Pastor's College. He retired to Kingston Hill, where he died, aged 71.