Skipsea
Encyclopedia
Skipsea is a village and civil parish on the North Sea
coast of the East Riding of Yorkshire
, England
. It is situated approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) south of Bridlington
and 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Hornsea
on the B1242 road at its junction with the B1249 road.
The civil parish is formed by the village of Skipsea and the hamlets
of Skipsea Brough
and Dringhoe
. According to the 2001 UK census
, Skipsea parish had a population of 633.
Just to the west of the village, in an area known as Skipsea Brough, lies Skipsea Castle
. Built in 1086, the motte-and-bailey
style castle has since been destroyed; however impressive earthworks remain.
The first recorded appearance of the name Skipsea is in the 12th century and the name is of Scandinavian origin, but the actual town-site has been in use much longer.
This is of no real surprise, as this part of the English coast was frequented by Viking invaders prior to the Norman Conquest. There is some evidence that the name Skipsea refers to its original Viking meaning of "Ship Lake", but the closest literal meaning of Skipsea is "a lake navigable by ships". This name refers to the village's original location on the edge of a lake, which was suitable for navigation and eel-fishing, that was slightly inland from the sea. This land has since been lost because of erosion, making Skipsea a seaside Village. There is evidence of habitation dating back to the Stone and Bronze Ages because of the 19th century archeological discovery of platforms, presumably for huts.
The borough of Skipsea Castle was first recorded between 1160 and 1175 and may have been founded by William le Gros, Count of Aumale, who died in 1179.
By the end of the 11th century, both Skipsea Castle
and a church had been built, which encouraged the growth of a small town. In the following 13th and 14th centuries, local markets and fairs were granted "variously for Skipsea town, Skipsea manor, and Skipsea Brough manor, presumably all the same and possibly by then meaning Skipsea village".
The village is also famous for being a possible site for nuclear testing in the 1950s, yet the scientists at Aldermaston
relented after strong opposition by the local community.
The Royal Observer Corps
used Skipsea as a site for a Cold War observation post. The site was active from October 1959 until it's decommissioning in September 1991. The site lay derelict until it was restored by an enthusiast in October 2008.
Currently, the economy of Skipsea is based on agriculture and tourism.
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
coast of the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is situated approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) south of Bridlington
Bridlington
Bridlington is a seaside resort, minor sea fishing port and civil parish on the Holderness Coast of the North Sea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a static population of over 33,000, which rises considerably during the tourist season...
and 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Hornsea
Hornsea
Hornsea is a small seaside resort, town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England at the eastern end of the Trans Pennine Trail.-Overview:According to the 2001 UK Census, Hornsea parish had a population of 8,243....
on the B1242 road at its junction with the B1249 road.
The civil parish is formed by the village of Skipsea and the hamlets
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Skipsea Brough
Skipsea Brough
Skipsea Brough is a hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north of Hornsea on the B1249 road.It forms part of the civil parish of Skipsea....
and Dringhoe
Dringhoe
Dringhoe is a hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north of Hornsea on the B1249 road to the west of Skipsea Brough.It forms part of the civil parish of Skipsea....
. According to the 2001 UK census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, Skipsea parish had a population of 633.
Just to the west of the village, in an area known as Skipsea Brough, lies Skipsea Castle
Skipsea Castle
Skipsea Castle is a Norman Motte and Bailey castle located south of Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England on the B1249 road at Skipsea Brough. It is a prominent castle...
. Built in 1086, the motte-and-bailey
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
style castle has since been destroyed; however impressive earthworks remain.
History
This is of no real surprise, as this part of the English coast was frequented by Viking invaders prior to the Norman Conquest. There is some evidence that the name Skipsea refers to its original Viking meaning of "Ship Lake", but the closest literal meaning of Skipsea is "a lake navigable by ships". This name refers to the village's original location on the edge of a lake, which was suitable for navigation and eel-fishing, that was slightly inland from the sea. This land has since been lost because of erosion, making Skipsea a seaside Village. There is evidence of habitation dating back to the Stone and Bronze Ages because of the 19th century archeological discovery of platforms, presumably for huts.
The borough of Skipsea Castle was first recorded between 1160 and 1175 and may have been founded by William le Gros, Count of Aumale, who died in 1179.
By the end of the 11th century, both Skipsea Castle
Skipsea Castle
Skipsea Castle is a Norman Motte and Bailey castle located south of Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England on the B1249 road at Skipsea Brough. It is a prominent castle...
and a church had been built, which encouraged the growth of a small town. In the following 13th and 14th centuries, local markets and fairs were granted "variously for Skipsea town, Skipsea manor, and Skipsea Brough manor, presumably all the same and possibly by then meaning Skipsea village".
The village is also famous for being a possible site for nuclear testing in the 1950s, yet the scientists at Aldermaston
Aldermaston
Aldermaston is a rural village, civil parish and electoral ward in Berkshire, South-East England. In the 2001 United Kingdom Census, the parish had a population of 927. The village is on the southern edge of the River Kennet flood plain, near the Hampshire county boundary...
relented after strong opposition by the local community.
The Royal Observer Corps
Royal Observer Corps
The Royal Observer Corps was a civil defence organisation operating in the United Kingdom between 29 October 1925 and 31 December 1995, when the Corps' civilian volunteers were stood down....
used Skipsea as a site for a Cold War observation post. The site was active from October 1959 until it's decommissioning in September 1991. The site lay derelict until it was restored by an enthusiast in October 2008.
Currently, the economy of Skipsea is based on agriculture and tourism.