Skipton’s History
A recent photo the ancient yew tree, at Skipton Castle, planted in the Conduit Court by Lady Anne Clifford in 1659 (Malcolm Stoney Photography)
Historical timeline
Follow a timeline of key events and turning points in Skipton’s past — from its medieval beginnings and market charter, through centuries of growth, conflict, and innovation. This chronological journey reveals how local and national forces shaped the town we know today.
7th Century
Anglo-Saxon settlement infiltrated the North. Skipton’s origin is likely to be in this period
1086
In the Domesday Book Skipton was referred to as ‘Sciptone’ or ‘Sheepfarm’ and being ‘land of the King’
c1087
Robert de Romille was granted a significant amount of land in the Skipton area
1120
First mention of existence of Holy Trinity Church, but the existing building dates to the 14th and 15th centuries, with substantial repairs after the Civil War
1130
First documentary reference to a castle at Skipton
1204
Market rights were granted for Skipton by King John
1266
Skipton rated as a ‘Borough’ rather than a village as it possessed a sufficiently large population, a fair portion of it engaged in industry/trade, a market and a court
1274
At some earlier stage the Honour of Skipton belonging to Romille passed to the counts of Aumale and the Forz family. In 1274, with the lack of a Forz heir the honour of Skipton passed to the Crown.
1292
Edward I stayed for a week in Skipton Castle on his way to Scotland
1308
Skipton Castle granted to the Royal favourite, Piers Gaveston
1310
High Corn Mill
1310
An Inquisition of this year showed that Skipton was home to a leper hospital
1310
Castle handed over to Robert de Clifford by Edward II
1318
The Scots attacked Skipton, but the castle was spared damage
1350
Skipton Castle was fully concentric and immensely strong
1400s
Earl Clifford sided with House of Lancaster in the War of the Roses
1475
The lordship of Skipton granted to Richard, Duke of Gloucester, KIng Richard III to be
1492
Earliest reference to foundation of Skipton Grammar School in chantry of Holy Trinity Church
1548
Skipton Grammar School established in site on east side of Skipton
1597
Charter sanctioning the holding of a fair every second Tuesday, from Easter to Christmas, for the sale of livestock
1642
Start of English Civil War; Skipton aligned with King
1645
Siege and surrender of Skipton Castle to Parliamentary forces
1648
Cromwell visited Skipton and ordered the Castle be ‘slighted’ to render less defendable.
1660
Skipton hosted the first national General Meeting of the Quakers
1675
Ownership of Skipton Castle and its estate passed by Lady Anne Clifford’s daughter to the Earls of Thanet
1693
Quakers Meeting House established, making it one of the earliest Friends meeting houses in the country
1757
Shortbank Common Land handed over to the Vicar by the Freeholders of Skipton, in lieu of paying Tithe
1764
John Wesley preached in Skipton
1773
First leg of Leeds Liverpool Canal opened, Skipton to Bingley. Signals the onset of the Industrial Revolution in Skipton.
1773
Springs Canal extends Leeds-Liverpool canal to foot of Skipton Castle to transport mined limestone
1785
High Mill (cotton spinning mill) opens powered by waters Eller Beck
1791
Chapel Hill Methodist Chapel opened
1791
Craven Bank formed; later merged into Martin’s Bank and then Barclay’s
1814
‘National School’ on Rectory Lane provided elementary education for boys; girls’ school opened in 1816 across the road
1829
Dewhursts Mill opened
1832
The present road to Gargrave was constructed about this time
1834
Skipton made a polling station after the Great Reform Act of 1832
1836
Skipton Gas Company opened
1837
Building of Christ Church begun; consecrated in 1839
1839
Low Mill opened in Sackville Street by Christopher Sidgwick; from 1896 the Silk Mill
1840
The Union Workhouse opened off Gargrave Road replacing a ‘poorhouse’ previously on Broughton Road
1842
Catholic Church opened off Gargrave Road
1842
Plug Plot riots reach Skipton. Unemployed Lancastrian mill workers, opposing steam powered manufacture, arrive in Skipton; dispersed by the military
1844
‘British School’ opened providing elementary education
1844
Number of voters in Skipton = 141
1846
Cemetery in Raikes Road opened
1847
Railway arrived at Skipton linking with Bradford
1847
New county court house opened on Court Lane
1847
Mechanics’ Institute established
1848
Railway between Skipton and Colne opened
1853
Skipton Cricket Club founded
1853
Skipton Building Society founded
1853
First number of the Craven Herald issued
1860
Pioneer newspaper first published
1863
Skipton Town Hall opened
1865
New Wesleyan chapel opened on Water Street
1866
Union Mill opened
1872
Skipton Rugby Football Club founded
1875
Whinnygill Reservoir filled with water for first time
1876
New Skipton Grammar School built off Gargrave Road
1876
New railway station opened
1877
Waltonwrays Cemetery opened
1877
Firth Mill opened
1878
Police Station in Otley Street erected
1885
Skipton Division of Yorkshire parliamentary constituency established. Sir Matthew Wilson was the first MP for the constituency, standing as a Liberal
1889
Girls’ Endowed School opened on Gargrave Road, to become Skipton Girls’ High School
1889
Park Mill opened
1891
Wesleyan elementary school opened off Water Street
1892
Drill Hall opened on Otley Street as a base for the Skipton company of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment
1894
Science and Art School opened off High Street
1894
Skipton Urban District Council came into being as a result of national local government reorganisation
1894
First meeting of the Skipton Urban District Council
1899
Skipton’s cottage hospital opened on Granville Street paid for by charitable donations during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year of 1897
1901
Annual Skipton Gala organised to raise funds for Skipton’s cottage hospital
1902
Skipton Infectious Diseases Hospital opened
1902
Skipton-Grassington Railway branch
1905
Skipton Golf Club opened
1906
Skipton Cattle Market opened at Jerry Croft
1908
Formation of Territorial Force. 6th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment based at Skipton
1908
Scouts established in Skipton
1908
Floods in Skipton caused considerable damage
1910
Town’s library opened
1912
Visit of 10,000 members of the Territorial Force to the district for the annual camp
1915
Military training camp established on Raikes initially used by Bradford Pals
1915
First 6th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment leave for Western Front in France and Belgium
1917
Second Battalion DoWR leave for France fighting in battles of Arras and Cambrai
1918
In the General Election a Conservative MP was elected for Skipton; the constituency has remained in Conservative hands ever since with the exception of the Commonwealth Party between 1944 and 1945
1920
Skipton transfers to the Diocese of Bradford from the Diocese of Ripon
1922
First 18 council houses occupied on the new Burnside estate
1922
Skipton’s war memorial unveiled
1922
Laying of electric cable in Skipton commenced
1923
Opening of Electricity Station at Old Grammar School; current switched on
1924
First electric street lamp at Ship Corner
1928
Craven Museum opened
1931
Contract entered into build 156 houses on Short Bank Road Estate by the Council
1935
Decision to demolish cottages on Waller Hill to make way for Bus Station
1938
Decision by Council to acquire 12 acres of land near Horse Close Bridge as a housing site. Construction would be postponed by war
1939
Evacuees arrived in Skipton, mainly from Bradford. With no immediate bombing many were withdrawn
1944
Italian prisoner of war camp at Overdale established
1944
By-election in Skipton sees the election of a candidate from the ‘Commonwealth Party’
1946
Work commenced on Horse Close housing site roads and sewers using German POW labour
1947
Severe winter weather led to Mills being closed due to fuel shortage
1950
Opening of Waller Hill Bus Station
1954
Greatwood Primary School opened
1956
Skipton Castle bought by T Fattorini from Lord Hothfield, in whose family it had been for 107 years
1957
Transfer of secondary modern school to premises in Aireville Park
1950s
Social housing estate of Horse Close and Greatwood completed
1961
Extension to Skipton General Hospital opened by the Princess Royal
1964
Aireville Pool opened by Miss Anita Lonsborough, M.B.E.
1970
Rt Hon Ian McLeod, Chancellor of the Exchequer, died. Born in Skipton in 1911.
1971
First plot of land sold at Keighley Road Industrial Estate for factory building
1971
Skipton and Craven History Society founded
1971
Public gained access to Skipton Woods
1971
District converted to North Sea Gas
1972
Sandylands Sports Centre opened
1979
George Burnaby Drayson T.D. retired as MP for Skipton after serving for 34 years and winning 10 constituency elections
1979
Flash summer flood hit Skipton; Miss Jane Barraclough (90) was drowned in her living room. A flood relief appeal raised £15846
1981
Skipton by-pass opened
1982
Skipton twinned with Bavarian town of Simbach
1984
New parliamentary constituency
1990
New auction mart opened by HRH The Princess Royal
1990
New Skipton Building Society premises on Harrogate Road built