England, United Kingdom, Yorkshire

Skipton – The Five Minute Spare Guide

Skipton – The Five Minute Spare Guide
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Skipton, sometimes known as Skipton-in-Craven, is a smallish market town located in North Yorkshire, just to the south of the Yorkshire Dales in the North of England. Situated on the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, it lies about 27 miles (43 km) northwest of Leeds and 38 miles (61 km) west of York.  The town prospered on the back of its medieval wool industry and boasts one of the country’s best-preserved castles from the period.

 

A Bit of Skipton History

Whilst almost nothing is known of Skipton’s very earliest history, it was almost certainly first settled by the 7th century Saxons who named it ‘sheep town’, from which the present-day name is derived. Following the Norman Invasion of 1066, the lands around Skipton were allocated to the Romille family by William the Conqueror. In 1090, the baron Robert de Romille built a timber motte-and-bailey castle at Skipton to protect his lands from the marauding Scots.

In 1122, he also founded the Holy Trinity church, which stands next to the castle. However, his wooden fortress was found to have only limited success against incursions and a stone keep was added in the 12th century by William le Gros. With the stone keep now providing security, a small market town quickly grew around the castle, which in 1204 was granted a charter by King John. Skipton grew and prospered as a wool town throughout the Middle Ages.

By the late 13th century, the barony of Skipton had fallen to Thomas, the 2nd Earl of Lancaster. However, in 1310, he was executed at Pontefract for his part in a rebellion against his cousin Edward II. Robert Clifford next took up the vacant Lord of the Manor position at Skipton, but his tenure was also cut short, as he died at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. However, the Clifford family were to rule the local area from Skipton Castle for the next 500 years.

The Civil War Hits Skipton

During the outbreak of the Civil War in 1642, Skipton was quickly garrisoned by the Royalists under the command of Sir John Mallory. It remained in the Royalist’s hands for more than the next 3 years, up until December 1645, when surrender to Parliamentary forces was made. In 1648, Cromwell ordered parts of the castle to be ‘slighted’ so that it could never again be used as a stronghold against the government.

However, in 1657, Lady Anne Clifford, the then owner, undertook a wholesale restoration of the castle. The Castle was brought back to its former glory, albeit with its defences made more cosmetic than functional, and an imposing gatehouse added. However, in 1676, Lady Anne died without leaving a male heir, so the castle’s ownership passed out of the Clifford family.

It was also during the 17th century, that the town’s wool trade went into a steep and non-recoverable decline. One of the major businesses to take its place was the lime mining industry. The local centre for trading lime was at Bingley, 13 miles downstream of Skipton on the River Aire. With local lime deposits dwindling, Bingley lime traders, Maud & Lister were keen to transport lime from Skipton. In 1744, they petitioned parliament to make the River Aire navigable between Bingley and Skipton. However, the Bill was strongly opposed by Lord Thanet, the owner of both Skipton Castle and some of the local limestone quarries, and ultimately it failed.

The Canal Arrives

Skipton Canal Yorkshire

Image: Leeds Fotografica/Shutterstock.com

In 1770, an Act of Parliament authorised the construction of a canal between Leeds and Liverpool, thus linking the north-west coast with the industrial heartlands of Lancashire and Yorkshire. In May 1770, the Act received royal approval and work on the project began almost immediately. The first part of the canal to be built was the section between Skipton and Bingley. It was perhaps recognition of Skipton’s growing economic importance but as the section did not require any locks to be built, it was also an attractive proposition to investors.

The canal was opened to great fanfare, with the Leeds Intelligencer reporting on 8 April 1773: “On Thursday last, that part of the Grand Canal from Bingley to Skipton was opened”…………… ”bells were set ringing at Skipton; there were also bonfires, illuminations, and other demonstrations of joy.” However, the whole 127 miles of Leeds-Liverpool Canal took 46 years to complete at a cost of five times the original budget.

The opening of the canal obviously gave the town a great competitive advantage, and consequently, it went on to boom during the period of the Industrial Revolution. The century following the late 1700s saw around 10 textile mills being built in Skipton, mostly producing cotton garments. However, the cotton industry was not to fully develop as it had in many other Yorkshire and Lancashire towns and agriculture remained a significant contributor to the local economy.

Railways Travel Booms

In the mid-19th century as travelling for leisure purposes began to spread to the masses, Skipton was quickly identified as the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales. The town quickly experienced high volumes of tourist traffic following the opening of its train station in 1847. The station was built by the Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway Company, as a temporary terminus of its line from Bradford. By 1848, it had already been extended to Colne. In 1849, the “little” North Western Railway opened a line from the town to Ingleton. The line was also quickly extended, and by 1850, it had reached Morecambe, passing through Lancaster.

In 1876, Skipton station was relocated about 400 m northwest of its original location. However, by this time, both the Leeds and Bradford and North Western Railway had been absorbed by Midland Railway. The opening of the new station coincided with the establishment of the Midland’s Settle-Carlisle Line, which saw Skipton introduced as a stop on the London St Pancras to Glasgow mainline.

World War Skipton

In 1914, Raikeswood Camp was established at the present-day Salisbury Street to house two of the Bradford ‘Pals’ Battalions. After the army vacated the site in January 1918, it was utilised as a POW camp. It housed more than 600 German soldiers and remained in operation until October 1919. During WW2, a POW camp was established at Overdale to accommodate both German and Italian soldiers. It now operates as the Overdale caravan park.

Following the end of WW2, Skipton continued its decline as an industrial base but gained in stature as a tourist destination.

Modern Skipton

Skipton Building Society and its subsidiary companies are the town’s biggest employer. The organisation, which is the country’s fourth-biggest Building Society, was established in 1853 and has been headquartered in the town ever since. Tourism also provides significant contributions to the local economy, with the town being viewed as a bit of a ‘Mecca’ for walkers and cyclists.

Retail is greatly helped by the fact that Skipton holds markets on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, which attracts both tourists and locals from neighbouring small towns and villages. The town is also home to several holiday companies and human resource agencies, which provide several hundred local jobs.

In 2014, Skipton topped a poll ran by a national newspaper as being ”the best place to live in Britain”. Great shopping, good schools, and its proximity to the Yorkshire Dales were cited as the main reasons why the town came out on top.

Some of the big days in Skipton’s calendar include the Music Festival held for a week in early-mid March, the Waterday’s Festival held for 3 days in early May, the Sheep Day (see below) held in early July and the 3-day Puppet Festival that is held in early October. Another main event is the Christmas Market which is repeatedly voted by the general public as being one of the best such markets in Britain. The ‘Tour de Yorkshire’ road bike race is also usually routed through Skipton and takes place in late April or early May.

At the 2011 UK national census, Skipton’s population was recorded as 14,623.

Getting To Skipton

By Road

Skipton is most easily accessed by road from both the Northwest and Southwest, via the M6 motorway. From the North, leave the M6 at junction 36, then head eastbound along the A65. From the South, leave at Junction 31 (Preston) and head eastwards along the A59. From most of Yorkshire and the east side of the country in general, use the A1(M), turning off at Junction 47.

By Train

The town is on the scenic Leeds to Carlisle line operated by Northern. Both Carlisle and Leeds are major rail hubs so they can be easily reached from any part of the county via the rail network. It’s about 23 miles from Leeds, while the journey from Carlisle is a bit longer at 90 miles, but it’s on what is often cited as the country’s most scenic railway route! As a bonus, it also passes over the famed Victorian Ribblehead Viaduct, which is located just outside the town of Settle. On occasions, it’s possible to take a steam train on the Leeds – Carlisle line, especially during the summer months.

By Bus

If you want to get to Skipton by bus, the easiest way would be to take a National Express coach to either Leeds or Bradford. From either city, there are regular service buses to Skipton. Alternatively, you could make the last part of the journey by train.

By Air

Leeds Bradford Airport is only about 20 miles (32 km) away, via the A65.

 

Did you know?

  • The yew tree which dominates the view at Skipton Castle’s Conduit Courtyard was planted by Lady Anne Clifford in 1659.
  • Skipton’s celebrates its ‘sheep town’ heritage by holding an annual ‘Sheep Day’ festival in the early July of each year. The popular fun day, which is held in the town centre, includes sheep racing and many other sheep related activities.
  • Skipton is twinned with the Bavarian town of Simbach in Germany and Erquinghem-Lys in France.

 

Notable People

Notable people born in Skipton, include:

  • Thomas Spencer (1851 – 1905) – who along with business partner Michael Marks, co-founded today’s major British retail giant Marks & Spencer. He was born in Skipton on the 7th November 1951.
  • Iain Norman Macleod (1913 – 1970) – was a Conservative Party politician, who served in government in a number of ministerial positions. He was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Ted Heath government that came to power in June 1970, but died unexpectedly only a month later. He was born in Skipton on the 11th November 1913.

Sport In Skipton

Skipton Town AFC

Skipton Town AFC currently (2020) plays its football in the Premier Division of the Craven & District League, the 14th tier of the English football system.

Other Sports

Skipton is well served by sport, as apart from football, it also boasts three cricket clubs, a cycling club; a swimming club; an athletics club; a triathlon club, a rugby union club and a golf club.

 

Things to see and do!

A few recommended things to see and do in and around Skipton are:

  • Skipton Castle – is located right in the centre of town. Dating back to the late 11th century, the castle can boast a turbulent history. There’s a regular programme of Medieval re-enactments at the castle. It’s open every day of the year excluding Christmas Eve to Boxing Day.
  • Craven Museum & Gallery –  is the home to the Skipton Shakespeare First Folio. The rare book is one of only four First Folios on permanent display in the world. The museum also tells the past story of life in the Dales, including that of the lead mining industry.
  • Aireville Park – consists of 8 hectares of parkland. Managed by Craven District Council the park houses an 18 hole pitch and putt golf course, a swimming pool, a fitness centre, a kid’s play area and other sporting facilities. Regular events are also held at the park.
  • Leeds to Liverpool Canal –  is the UK’s longest waterway and runs right through the heart of Skipton. It runs through some of the most scenic countryside found anywhere on the country’s canal network, making it popular with walkers and boat enthusiasts alike.
  • Bolton Abbey – is just a short distance from Skipton town centre and one of the most popular attractions in the area. The abbey dates back to 1120 and has a wealth of history to investigate. The original abbey ruins are present on the grounds and the impressive estate has plenty of walks and other attractions. There’s also a licensed restaurant and a picnic area.

Out and About

  • Thornton Hall Farm Country Park – is located just outside Skipton. The working farm offers close-up animal encounters and an excellent children’s play area. The park opens at 10:00 am and closes at 16:30 pm.
  • Cycling – Located on the very edge of Yorkshire Dales, Skipton is renowned for its ready access to some of the best road cycling and mountain biking routes in the county. You can get all the information you’ll need from Skipton Tourist Information Centre.
  • Walking – There are at least half a dozen well established (relatively short) walks within a few miles of Skipton town centre.

 

Where to stay?

While there’s a fairly decent amount of choice of accommodation in and around the town, not unsurprisingly the main available type is rustic style Guesthouses, B&Bs or Inns. However, there is also a number of hotels and a small amount of Holiday let/Studio types places, with the latter usually cater for up to 4 people. Guideline prices for the various types of readily available accommodation in the town are:

Guesthouse/B & B/Inn: £70 – £100

Hotel: £100 – £150

Luxury Hotel: £ 150+

Holiday Let/Studio: Typically £50 – £100 pp per night for max no. of people sharing.

 

Moving to Skipton?

In the last 12 months, residential properties in the town have sold for an average price of £231,400, which is a 4% increase on the previous year. The majority of sales during the last year were terraced properties, selling for an average price of £179,700. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £230,100, while the mid-value of flats was 177,100.

So there you have it our Five Minute Overview of Skipton one of the stops on the scenic Carlisle Settle Line. Before you go why not try some of our other quizzes or have a look at some of our other location guides. better still why not join our growing community it’s free and could be very rewarding going forward.

 

 

 

 

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