Skipton, North Yorkshire - " Skipton Gateway To The Dales"

Useful Information

Skipton

Situated at the edge of the North Yorkshire Dales Skipton also known as the "Gateway To The Dales" or Sheeptown. Skipton was recorded as early as 1066 and was given the market charter in the early 1200's. A grammar school was endowed by Peter Toller in 1492, re-endowed by William Ermysted in 1548 and still bearing his name.
The old Skipton Theatre now the Craven Court shopping precinct where Edmund Keane and Harriet Mellon-Duchess of St Albans are reputed to have played.
The arrival of the Leeds-Liverpool canal Cotton became the main raw material processed and a closer association with East Lancs. Some factories were established in Skipton the most famous being Dewhurst "Sylko" thread, used all over the world.

SKIPTON LIBRARY

Skipton castle is one of the best preserved and most complete medieval castle in England,despite a three year period during the civil war when it came under siege

After the battle of Marston Moor it was the only Royalist stronghold left in the north of England. At last the governor, Sir John Mallory, negotiated a surrender, and on the 21st December 1645 the garrison marched out with colours flying and trumpets sounding. Cromwell ordered the removal of the castle roofs, but only ten years later the owner, Lady Anne Clifford, was allowed to replace them , on condition they were not strong enough to bear firing cannon. You can still clearly read in the castle's stones the story of this period of English history and of many earlier ones, for in Cromwell's time Skipton was already ancient. For Centuries the market town nestled for safety beneath the castle walls. Successive Lords of Skipton lie buried in the parish church, the most famous being George Clifford, third earl of Cumberland, Champion to Queen Elizabeth 1, one of her Admirals against the Armada.