Skipton
Encyclopedia
Skipton is a market town
and civil parish within the Craven
district of North Yorkshire
, England
. It is located along the course of both the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
and the River Aire
, on the south side of the Yorkshire Dales
, 16 miles (25.7 km) northwest of Bradford
and 38 miles (61.2 km) west of York
. At the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001
, Skipton had a population of 14,313.
Historically
a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire
, Skipton was anciently distinguished by Skipton Castle
, first constructed in 1090 as a motte-and-bailey
by Robert de Romille, a Norman baron
. This building was replaced by a stone keep as a means to repel attacks from the Kingdom of Scotland
to the north, the erection of which elevated Skipton from a poor dependent village to a burgh
administered by a reve
. The protection offered by Skipton Castle during the Middle Ages
encouraged the urbanisation of the surrounding area, and during times of war and disorder, attracted an influx of families.
The community around Skipton Castle encouraged the region to become a prosperous market town, trading sheep and woollen goods, which also led to its naming, derived from the Old English sceap (sheep) and tun (town or village). A market
stemming from its formative years still survives, albeit with significant modification. In the 19th century, Skipton emerged as a small mill town
connected to the major cities via the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and its branch Thanet Canal
, (also known locally as 'Springs branch Canal'), but during the 20th century Skipton's economy shifted to tourism
, aided by its historic architecture and proximity to the Yorkshire Dales. Since 1974, Skipton has been the seat of Craven District Council. The Skipton Building Society
was founded in the town.
. It played roles in history during the English Civil War
and as the site of a prisoner of war camp during World War I
.
Home to one of the oldest mills in North Yorkshire, historical documents indicate High Corn Mill date to 1310 when the cornmill was owned by Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford
, at this point it was transferred to the powerful Clifford family
by the then King Edward II. The mill as it appears today is only half of what used to exist when two mills were in operation to produce corn for the whole of Skipton.
MP since its inception. The seat is currently held by Julian Smith
MP. Prior to 1983 Skipton had its own eponymous constituency
.
Skipton forms part of Craven District, a Non-metropolitan district
, and is home of the offices of Craven District Council. In 2007, proposals to make North Yorkshire County Council a unitary authority, removing the layer of government represented by Craven District, were rejected.
Skipton has its own town council
consisting of 16 Councillors, formed by 4 members from each of the four wards within the parish boundaries, [North, East, South and West]. The Town Council Offices are based on the High Street, above Barclay's Bank.
and its subsidiary companies. The town is home to several holiday companies, including Blue Water Holidays http://www.cruisingholidays.co.uk and several cottage holiday firms. It is also a centre for recruitment, with several hundred people employed in this sector. Recruitment firms include Medacs, JCJ, Holt and Medic International (Healthcare Recruitment Companies), Cody (a firm for Recruitment Consultant jobs) and Justteachers (a supply teachers agency). Tourism and retail sales are also significant. The town is known as the "Gateway to the Dales", due to its close proximity to the Yorkshire Dales. Skipton has many visitors, particularly on market days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). As Skipton is the nearest and largest town to most of the small towns and villages within the Dales it attracts a lot of shoppers and as a result has a bustling atmosphere and a wide range of shops. In 2008 the Academy of Urbanism voted the High Street the best shopping spot in Britain. The wide main street used to host the sheep market, but now a general market is held there four days a week, and livestock is auctioned at the Auction Mart on the western edge of the town. The town has three official allotment sites.
A brewery
opened in 2002. The Copper Dragon Brewery produce five different cask beers, four of which are also available bottled
. The company's logo
is a green dragon
coiled around the top of a brewer's copper
kettle
. Copper Dragon currently has seven pubs
.
The Town Hall in Skipton holds regular craft fairs and special events and also houses a local history museum, Craven Museum & Gallery.
Skipton Little Theatre is located near the town centre. The Mart Theatre is an unusual and unique venue. Opening in October 2005 with funding from the European Regional Development Fund
, Yorkshire Forward, Craven District Council and the Arts Council England, it provides a unique rural theatre, events and other facilities within a functioning Auction Mart.
Skipton is twinned with the Bavaria
n town of Simbach
. In May 2009 the town council decided to proceed with twinning with Erquinghem-Lys
in France.
Skipton has many pubs, two nightclubs, and restaurants ranging from traditional fish and chips to high quality French cuisine, taking in modern British, Mexican, Indian, Greek, Chinese and Italian.
The local newspaper is the Craven Herald & Pioneer
.
Skipton lies close to the junction of the A65 road
(from Leeds to the Lake District
) and the A59
from York
to Liverpool
. The north section (A65 & A59) of the £16.4 million Skipton Bypass opened in December 1981. The rest of the six-mile bypass (A629) opened in October 1982, greatly reducing journey times to the Dales.
Skipton railway station
gives access southbound to regular services for Leeds
and Bradford
on the electrified Airedale Line
; northbound services connect to Lancaster
, Morecambe
and Carlisle; the latter route is along the famously scenic Settle-Carlisle Railway
, passing over the Ribblehead Viaduct
. Skipton bus station
was rebuilt in 2009.
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal
runs through Skipton and is a popular destination for tourists, with walking and boat hire being easily available.
s: Ermysted's Grammar School
for boys, and Skipton Girls' High School
(SGHS). Both schools are selective (by entrance exam) and obtain comparable high A-Level scores. On the basis of the 2009 A Level results Ermysted's performed 13th best in the UK and SGHS was rated 42nd.
was born in Skipton in 1838. Thomas Spencer, the co-founder of Marks & Spencer
, was born in Queen's Court, Skipton in 1858. The American mathematician Thomas William Edmondson
was born in Skipton in 1869. Geoffrey Dawson
, editor of The Times
from 1912 to 1919 and from 1923 until 1941, was born in Skipton in 1874.
Two politicians were born in Skipton: the former Conservative
MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer
Iain Macleod
in 1913, and the Labour
MP Joan Humble
in 1951. Former British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
's personal physician during the Second World War, Charles Wilson, the first Baron Moran
, was born in Skipton in 1882.
The poet and author Blake Morrison
was born in Skipton in 1950. The former Manchester City footballer Rick Holden
was born in Skipton in 1964. The actress Elaine Glover
, who has appeared in Footballers' Wives
and HolbyBlue
, was born in Skipton in 1983.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
and civil parish within the Craven
Craven
Craven is a local government district in North Yorkshire, England that came into being in 1974, centred on the market town of Skipton. In the changes to British local government of that year this district was formed as the merger of Skipton urban district, Settle Rural District and most of Skipton...
district of North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, 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 located along the course of both the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Leeds and Liverpool Canal
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a canal in Northern England, linking the cities of Leeds and Liverpool. Over a distance of , it crosses the Pennines, and includes 91 locks on the main line...
and the River Aire
River Aire
The River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England of length . Part of the river is canalised, and is known as the Aire and Calder Navigation....
, on the south side of the Yorkshire Dales
Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales is the name given to an upland area in Northern England.The area lies within the historic county boundaries of Yorkshire, though it spans the ceremonial counties of North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Cumbria...
, 16 miles (25.7 km) northwest of Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
and 38 miles (61.2 km) west of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. At the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001
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....
, Skipton had a population of 14,313.
Historically
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
, Skipton was anciently distinguished by Skipton Castle
Skipton Castle
Skipton Castle is situated within the town of Skipton, North Yorkshire, England. The castle has been preserved for over 900 years, built in 1090 by Robert de Romille, a Norman baron.- History :...
, first constructed in 1090 as a 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...
by Robert de Romille, a Norman baron
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
. This building was replaced by a stone keep as a means to repel attacks from the Kingdom of Scotland
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
to the north, the erection of which elevated Skipton from a poor dependent village to a burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
administered by a reve
Reeve (England)
Originally in Anglo-Saxon England the reeve was a senior official with local responsibilities under the Crown e.g. as the chief magistrate of a town or district...
. The protection offered by Skipton Castle during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
encouraged the urbanisation of the surrounding area, and during times of war and disorder, attracted an influx of families.
The community around Skipton Castle encouraged the region to become a prosperous market town, trading sheep and woollen goods, which also led to its naming, derived from the Old English sceap (sheep) and tun (town or village). A market
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
stemming from its formative years still survives, albeit with significant modification. In the 19th century, Skipton emerged as a small mill town
Mill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
connected to the major cities via the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and its branch Thanet Canal
Thanet Canal
The Thanet Canal is a short branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which leaves the main canal in Skipton, and runs to some loading wharfs near Skipton Castle, which were used to load limestone from local quarries into boats for onward shipment. It was opened in 1773, and extended in 1794...
, (also known locally as 'Springs branch Canal'), but during the 20th century Skipton's economy shifted to tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, aided by its historic architecture and proximity to the Yorkshire Dales. Since 1974, Skipton has been the seat of Craven District Council. The Skipton Building Society
Skipton Building Society
The Skipton Building Society is a building society in the United Kingdom . It is a member of the Building Societies Association....
was founded in the town.
History
Skipton is known to have been in existence since 1085 as it is listed in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. It played roles in history during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
and as the site of a prisoner of war camp during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Home to one of the oldest mills in North Yorkshire, historical documents indicate High Corn Mill date to 1310 when the cornmill was owned by Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford
Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford
Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford, also 1st Lord of Skipton , was an English soldier who became first Lord Warden of the Marches, defending the English border with Scotland. He was born in Clifford Castle, Herefordshire, and was married there in 1295 to Maud de Clare, eldest daughter of...
, at this point it was transferred to the powerful Clifford family
Baron de Clifford
Baron de Clifford is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1299 for Robert de Clifford. The title was created by writ, which means that it can descend through both male and female lines. The de Clifford family settled in England after the Norman conquest and were a notable family in...
by the then King Edward II. The mill as it appears today is only half of what used to exist when two mills were in operation to produce corn for the whole of Skipton.
Governance
Skipton is part of the parliamentary constituency of Skipton and Ripon, which was created in 1983. The constituency has returned a ConservativeConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP since its inception. The seat is currently held by Julian Smith
Julian Smith (politician)
Julian Richard Smith is the Conservative Member of Parliament for the constituency of Skipton and Ripon. He was elected at the general election of 2010 with 27,685 votes , giving him a majority of 9,950....
MP. Prior to 1983 Skipton had its own eponymous constituency
Skipton (UK Parliament constituency)
Skipton was a county constituency centred on the town of Skipton in Yorkshire which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
.
Skipton forms part of Craven District, a Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
, and is home of the offices of Craven District Council. In 2007, proposals to make North Yorkshire County Council a unitary authority, removing the layer of government represented by Craven District, were rejected.
Skipton has its own town council
Town council
A town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch....
consisting of 16 Councillors, formed by 4 members from each of the four wards within the parish boundaries, [North, East, South and West]. The Town Council Offices are based on the High Street, above Barclay's Bank.
Economy
The town's major local employer is Skipton Building SocietySkipton Building Society
The Skipton Building Society is a building society in the United Kingdom . It is a member of the Building Societies Association....
and its subsidiary companies. The town is home to several holiday companies, including Blue Water Holidays http://www.cruisingholidays.co.uk and several cottage holiday firms. It is also a centre for recruitment, with several hundred people employed in this sector. Recruitment firms include Medacs, JCJ, Holt and Medic International (Healthcare Recruitment Companies), Cody (a firm for Recruitment Consultant jobs) and Justteachers (a supply teachers agency). Tourism and retail sales are also significant. The town is known as the "Gateway to the Dales", due to its close proximity to the Yorkshire Dales. Skipton has many visitors, particularly on market days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). As Skipton is the nearest and largest town to most of the small towns and villages within the Dales it attracts a lot of shoppers and as a result has a bustling atmosphere and a wide range of shops. In 2008 the Academy of Urbanism voted the High Street the best shopping spot in Britain. The wide main street used to host the sheep market, but now a general market is held there four days a week, and livestock is auctioned at the Auction Mart on the western edge of the town. The town has three official allotment sites.
A brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
opened in 2002. The Copper Dragon Brewery produce five different cask beers, four of which are also available bottled
Beer bottle
A beer bottle is a bottle made to contain beer, usually made of glass.Bottled beer has been in use since as early as the 16th century. Beer bottles come in various sizes, shapes and colours....
. The company's logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
is a green dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
coiled around the top of a brewer's copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
kettle
Kettle
A kettle, sometimes called a tea kettle or teakettle, is a small kitchen appliance used for boiling water. Kettles can be heated either by placing on a stove, or by their own electric heating element.- Stovetop kettles :...
. Copper Dragon currently has seven pubs
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
.
Heritage and culture
On Saturday, 13 July 1901, a gala was held in Skipton to raise money for the Skipton and District Cottage Hospital, built at the time of Queen Victoria's Jubilee, held on the Brick Buildings Fields off Bailey Road. This was such a major event in the area that extra trains were laid on to bring revellers to the town from miles around. After the formation of the NHS, with the hospital being funded from central government, the Skipton Charities Gala continued, raising money for local charities and non-profit-making organisations. Nowadays, this charity gala, held every year on the second Saturday in June, starts with a procession through the town centre to Aireville Park, where various live performance acts entertain the public, culminating in live music and a firework display.Skipton Little Theatre is located near the town centre. The Mart Theatre is an unusual and unique venue. Opening in October 2005 with funding from the European Regional Development Fund
European Regional Development Fund
The European Regional Development Fund is a fund allocated by the European Union.-History:During the 1960s, the European Commission occasionally tried to establish a regional fund. Only Italy ever supported this, however, and nothing came of it. Britain made it an issue for their accession in...
, Yorkshire Forward, Craven District Council and the Arts Council England, it provides a unique rural theatre, events and other facilities within a functioning Auction Mart.
Skipton is twinned with the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n town of Simbach
Simbach am Inn
Simbach am Inn is a town on the Inn in the Rottal-Inn district of Bavaria, Germany. The Austrian city Braunau am Inn lies on the opposite side of the river from Simbach.-History:Simbach was one of the first places where electricity was used...
. In May 2009 the town council decided to proceed with twinning with Erquinghem-Lys
Erquinghem-Lys
-See also:*Communes of the Nord departmentErquinghem is one of a series of villages on the river Lys established by the Viking Rikiwulf in 880 AD at the time of the invasion led by Godfrid, Duke of Frisia: Racquinghem, Reclinghem, Rekkem and Rijkegem .-References:*...
in France.
Skipton has many pubs, two nightclubs, and restaurants ranging from traditional fish and chips to high quality French cuisine, taking in modern British, Mexican, Indian, Greek, Chinese and Italian.
The local newspaper is the Craven Herald & Pioneer
Craven Herald & Pioneer
The Craven Herald & Pioneer is a weekly newspaper covering the Craven area of North Yorkshire as well as part of the Pendle area of Lancashire. Up until 29 October 2009 it remained one of only two weekly papers in the United Kingdom that continued to have a front page consisting wholly of...
.
Transport
A65 road
The A65 is a major road in England. It runs north west from Leeds in Yorkshire via Kirkstall, Horsforth, Yeadon, Guiseley, Ilkley and Skipton, passes west of Settle, then continues through Ingleton and Kirkby Lonsdale before terminating at Kendal in Cumbria....
(from Leeds to the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
) and the A59
A59 road
The A59 is a major road in the United Kingdom that runs from Liverpool in Merseyside, to York in North Yorkshire.-Merseyside:The A59 begins in the centre of Liverpool at the mouth of the Birkenhead Tunnel, and heads north out of the city, first as Scotland Road in Vauxhall, then Kirkdale Road,...
from York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. The north section (A65 & A59) of the £16.4 million Skipton Bypass opened in December 1981. The rest of the six-mile bypass (A629) opened in October 1982, greatly reducing journey times to the Dales.
Skipton railway station
Skipton railway station
Skipton railway station serves the town of Skipton in North Yorkshire, England on the Airedale Line. It is operated by Northern Rail and is situated north-west of Leeds....
gives access southbound to regular services for Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
and Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
on the electrified Airedale Line
Airedale Line
The Airedale Line is the name given to one of the rail services in the Metro area of northern England. The service is operated by Northern Rail, on the route connecting Leeds and Bradford with Skipton in the North of England. Some services along the line continue to Morecambe or Carlisle...
; northbound services connect to Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
, Morecambe
Morecambe
Morecambe is a resort town and civil parish within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. As of 2001 it has a resident population of 38,917. It faces into Morecambe Bay...
and Carlisle; the latter route is along the famously scenic Settle-Carlisle Railway
Settle-Carlisle Railway
The Settle–Carlisle Line is a long main railway line in northern England. It is also known as the Settle and Carlisle. It is a part of the National Rail network and was constructed in the 1870s...
, passing over the Ribblehead Viaduct
Ribblehead Viaduct
Ribblehead Viaduct is a railway viaduct across the valley of the River Ribble at Ribblehead, in North Yorkshire, northern England. The viaduct is a Grade II* listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.-Description:...
. Skipton bus station
Skipton bus station
Skipton bus station serves the town of Skipton, North Yorkshire, England.The bus station is situated in Skipton Town Centre just off Keighley Road. There are eight stands at the bus station and the main operators are Keighley & District, Pride of the Dales, First Leeds, Lancashire United and...
was rebuilt in 2009.
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Leeds and Liverpool Canal
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a canal in Northern England, linking the cities of Leeds and Liverpool. Over a distance of , it crosses the Pennines, and includes 91 locks on the main line...
runs through Skipton and is a popular destination for tourists, with walking and boat hire being easily available.
Primary education
There is a wide variety of choice for pupils at ages 5–11:- Non-denominational:
- Ings Community Primary School
- Greatwood Community Primary School
- Water Street Community Primary School
- Roman Catholic:
- St Stephen's Catholic Primary School
- Church of England:
- Christ Church
- Parish Church (informally known as Brougham Street) Primary School
Secondary education
As well as Aireville School (ages 11–16), there are two single-sex grammar schoolGrammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
s: Ermysted's Grammar School
Ermysted's Grammar School
Ermysteds Grammar School is a LEA-funded selective boys' Grammar School in Skipton, North Yorkshire, England, teaching over 800 pupils.It is the seventh oldest state school in Britain and was founded by Peter Toller in the 15th century. The first official record of the school was seen in Peter...
for boys, and Skipton Girls' High School
Skipton Girls' High School
Skipton Girls' High School, founded in 1886 by the Petyt Trust, is an all girls selective grammar school situated in Skipton, North Yorkshire, England. The school recently became a foundation school. Around 800 girls aged 11 to 18 are educated at the school, of which 190 are in the sixth form. The...
(SGHS). Both schools are selective (by entrance exam) and obtain comparable high A-Level scores. On the basis of the 2009 A Level results Ermysted's performed 13th best in the UK and SGHS was rated 42nd.
Sports
Skipton is home to Skipton Town A.F.C. and Skipton LMS, both football clubs; three cricket clubs; Skipton CC and Skipton CI, Skipton Kashmir; and Skipton R.F.C., a rugby union club. The Coulthurst Craven Sports Centre, adjacent to the rugby club, has many facilities including all-weather football pitches and squash courts. There are several other gyms in the town as well as a public swimming pool.Notable people
A number of notable people have been born in Skipton. The philosopher Henry SidgwickHenry Sidgwick
Henry Sidgwick was an English utilitarian philosopher and economist. He was one of the founders and first president of the Society for Psychical Research, a member of the Metaphysical Society, and promoted the higher education of women...
was born in Skipton in 1838. Thomas Spencer, the co-founder of Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
, was born in Queen's Court, Skipton in 1858. The American mathematician Thomas William Edmondson
Thomas William Edmondson
Thomas William Edmondson, Ph. D., was an Anglo-American mathematician, born at Skipton-in-Craven, Yorkshire, England. He graduated from the University of London, studied at Cambridge, and also at Clark University, Worcester, Mass. He was an associate professor at NYU from 1896 to 1905, and a...
was born in Skipton in 1869. Geoffrey Dawson
Geoffrey Dawson
George Geoffrey Dawson was editor of The Times from 1912 to 1919 and again from 1923 until 1941. His original last name was Robinson, but he changed it in 1917.-Early life:...
, editor of The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
from 1912 to 1919 and from 1923 until 1941, was born in Skipton in 1874.
Two politicians were born in Skipton: the former Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
Iain Macleod
Iain Macleod
Iain Norman Macleod was a British Conservative Party politician and government minister.-Early life:...
in 1913, and the Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
MP Joan Humble
Joan Humble
Jovanka Humble is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Blackpool North and Fleetwood from 1997 to 2010.-Early life:...
in 1951. Former British Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
's personal physician during the Second World War, Charles Wilson, the first Baron Moran
Baron Moran
Baron Moran, of Manton in the County of Wiltshire, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.It was created on 8 March 1943 for the physician Charles Wilson...
, was born in Skipton in 1882.
The poet and author Blake Morrison
Blake Morrison
Philip Blake Morrison is a British poet and author who has published in a wide range of fiction and non-fiction genres. His greatest success came with the publication of his memoirs And When Did You Last See Your Father? which won the J. R. Ackerley Prize for Autobiography. He has also written a...
was born in Skipton in 1950. The former Manchester City footballer Rick Holden
Rick Holden
Richard William "Dick" Holden is an English former professional footballer. He played for six clubs in a decade-long career. He moved into management after retiring.-Oldham Athletic:...
was born in Skipton in 1964. The actress Elaine Glover
Elaine Glover
Elaine Glover is an English actress. She grew up in Skipton.Elaine trained at Rose Bruford College as an Actor Musician...
, who has appeared in Footballers' Wives
Footballers' Wives
Footballers' Wives is a British television drama surrounding the fictional Premier League Association football club Earls Park F.C., its players, and their wives. It was broadcast on the ITV network from 8 January 2002 to 14 April 2006...
and HolbyBlue
HolbyBlue
HolbyBlue was a British police drama series that aired on BBC One from 2007 to 2008. Produced by the BBC, Red Planet Pictures and Kudos for BBC One, it is a spin-off of the successful BBC One medical drama Holby City, itself a spin-off of the long-running series Casualty.The first series was...
, was born in Skipton in 1983.