Skipton
| Skipton | |||
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| Coordinates | 53 ° 58 ′ N , 2 ° 1 ′ W | ||
| OS National Grid | SD993516 | ||
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| Residents | 14,313 (as of: 2001) | ||
| administration | |||
| Post town | SKIPTON | ||
| ZIP code section | BD23 | ||
| prefix | 01756 | ||
| Part of the country | England | ||
| region | Yorkshire and the Humber | ||
| Shire county | North Yorkshire | ||
| District | Craven | ||
| British Parliament | Skipton and Ripon | ||
| Website: skiptontowncouncil.gov.uk | |||
Skipton is a small town in the English county of North Yorkshire and the administrative seat of the District of Craven . According to the 2001 census, Skipton had a total of 14,313 inhabitants.
Historical development
Due to traditional sheep farming , the textile industry was once very important in Skipton . This is already expressed in the name of the city, because the word Skipton comes from the Anglo-Saxon sheep town ("city of sheep"). The Leeds-Liverpool Canal , an artificial waterway that runs right through Skipton and was built in the second half of the 18th century , was an important economic factor. The advantages of faster transport of goods by road led to the waterway becoming less important in the 20th century. Today the Leeds-Liverpool Canal is almost exclusively used for tourism. A boat trip is part of the standard program of every Skipton visitor.
Economy and Transport
Skipton is still an important trading center in the region today. Four times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) there is a large market in the city center, which is frequented by people from the surrounding area. In addition, there are many small specialist shops and department stores that supply the city's residents and the surrounding area.
Its importance for agriculture is demonstrated by one of the largest cattle markets in the north of England.
Skipton is connected to the Leeds – Lancaster / Morecambe railway line, the Leeds – Settle – Carlisle railway line and the main A65 and A59 roads. The waterways are only important for tourism.
Tourism and sightseeing
Today Skipton is very much shaped by tourism . Benefiting from its location on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales , one of the most scenic areas in England, the city has benefited from gentle tourism . Hikers and nature lovers from all over England use Skipton as a starting point for their activities. Accordingly, there are also a relatively large number of hotels and private accommodation.
lock
The symbol of the city and at the same time the main tourist attraction is the castle, the cornerstone of which the Normans laid and expanded it as an important fortress . The present face of the beautiful castle complex dates mainly from the 14th century . Nowadays the interior of the castle can also be visited and thus provides an insight into the eventful history of the building and the town of Skipton.
The castle has been owned by the Clifford family since 1310 . The gatehouse of the castle dates back to the 12th century, while the rest of the building was rebuilt around 1657 under the direction of after the civil war. In the courtyard a yew tree planted by Lady Anne Clifford .
John Clifford , "the butcher" who in the War of the Roses against the House of York was fighting, was in the drama Henry IV. Of Shakespeare immortalized. The Clifford's Tower in York was named after the Clifford family.
Church of Holy Trinity
The Church of Holy Trinity (German: Church of the Holy Trinity) next to the castle was also repaired under Lady Anne Clifford. In addition to graves and memorial stones of the Clifford family, there is also a Jacobean baptismal font from the 12th century and a rood screen gallery from 1533.
Craven Museum
The Craven Museum (Museum of the Craven Region ) is housed in the town hall and shows some of the past of Skipton and the region. It is also commemorated the city's most famous son, Thomas Spencer , co-founder of the Marks & Spencer department store chain .
Leeds Liverpool Canal
Several signs in the village point to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal , on which one can take excursions on colorfully decorated narrowboats , which were specially designed for canal navigation .
religion
There are many religious groups in Skipton. A large number of places of worship and prayer halls bear witness to this. The parish church “Holy Trinity” in the city center, which belongs to the Anglican church community and is accessible to visitors at all times, is a defining feature of the cityscape .
culture and education
Skipton is also a downright school town. The different types of schools offer a wide range of educational opportunities. The sports facilities are accordingly spacious. The large Aireville Park gives not only sports clubs, but also families the opportunity to exercise. As a public park, it is accessible to everyone.
Town twinning
A town partnership has existed with the Bavarian town of Simbach am Inn since 1982, and with the northern French town of Erquinghem-Lys since 2010 .
Personalities
- Henry Sidgwick (1838–1900), philosopher
- Iain Macleod (1913–1970), politician and newspaper publisher
- Peter Armitage (1939–2018), actor
- Anthony Rowley (* 1953), linguist
- Clare Teal (* 1973), jazz singer
Individual evidence
- ↑ 2001 census
Web links
- The City website (English)
- Skipton Castle (English)