Skipton

Infobox UK place
official_name= Skipton
country= England
region= Yorkshire and the Humber
population= 14,313 [Census, 2001]
os_grid_reference= SD993516
latitude= 53.96099
longitude= -2.01205
static_

static_image_caption=Skipton town centre
post_town= SKIPTON
postcode_area= BD
postcode_district= BD23
dial_code= 01756
constituency_westminster=Skipton and Ripon
civil_parish= Skipton
london_distance= mi to km|223|precision=0
shire_district= Craven
shire_county= North Yorkshire
website= http://www.skiptontowncouncil.gov.uk/

Skipton (also known as Skipton-in-Craven) is a civil parish and historic market town in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is a popular tourist destination in its own right, as well as being a convenient base for visitors to the Yorkshire Dales (the town is known as 'The Gateway to the Dales').

The town has a population of 14,313 according to the 2001 census.

History

The town of Skipton is known to have been in existence since 1085 as it is listed in the Domesday Book. It played roles in history during the English Civil War and as the site of a prisoner of war camp during World War I.

Governance

Skipton lies within the Parliamentary Constituency of Skipton and Ripon, which was created in 1983. The constituency has returned a Conservative MP since its inception. The seat is currently held by David Curry MP

Skipton forms part of Craven District, a Non-metropolitan district, and is home of the offices of Craven District Council. In 2007 there proposals to make North Yorkshire County Council a unitary authority, removing the layer of government represented by Craven District were rejected. [ [http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/public/site/NYCC/menuitem.0329f0efd584164fd7428f1040008a0c/?vgnextoid=3b538cd25aaf1110VgnVCM100000420f1cacRCRD New Council for North Yorkshire] ] [cite web |author=Speak, Jenny |url=http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/search/display.var.1575291.0.unitary_council_plan_scrapped.php |title=Unitary council plan scrapped |publisher= Craven Herald & Pioneer |accessdate=2007-08-14 ]

Skipton also has its own town council.

Economy

The town's major local employer is Skipton Building Society and its subsidiary companies. Tourism and retail sales are also significant: 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.

Amenities and Culture

Skipton has many pubs, two nightclubs, and restaurants ranging from traditional fish and chips to high quality French cuisine, taking in modern British, Mexican, Thai, Indian, Chinese and Italian.

Skipton Little Theatre [http://www.skiptonlittletheatre.org.uk/index.html theatre] is located near the town centre. The Mart Theatre [http://www.themarttheatre.org.uk/] 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 aims to provide a unique rural theatre, events and other facilities within a functioning Auction Mart.

Skipton is twinned with the Bavarian town of Simbach.

Transport

Skipton lies close to the junction of the A65 road (from Leeds to the Lake District) with the A59 from York to Liverpool. The north section (A65 & A59) of the £16.4m 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 is a hub for local bus services.

Education

Primary education

There is a wide variety of choice for pupils at ages 5-11:
*Roman Catholic:
**St Stephen's Catholic Primary School
*Church of England:
**Christ Church
**Parish Church (informally known as Brougham Street) Primary School
*Non-denominational:
**Ings Community Primary School
**Greatwood Community Primary School
** [http://www.waterstreet.n-yorks.sch.uk/ Water Street Community Primary School]

econdary education

As well as [http://www.aireville.n-yorks.sch.uk Aireville School] (ages 11-16), there are two single-sex grammar schools: 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 2007 A Level results Ermysted's and SGHS were rated first and third respectively in North Yorkshire, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/07/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/815_alevel_lea.stm Secondary schools in North Yorkshire: A/AS-level score] , BBC News, 2007.] Ermysted's ranking 49th nationally. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7180103.stm Top A-level results] , BBC News, 2007.]

Further education

*Craven College

ports

Skipton is the home to Skipton Town A.F.C., Skipton Bulldogs, and Skipton LMS, all football clubs; Skipton CC and Skipton CI, both cricket clubs; 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 Sidgwick was born in Skipton in 1838. [cite book|last=Moggridge|first=Donald Edward|title=Maynard Keynes: An Economist's Biography|publisher=Routledge|pages=p. 57|isbn=0415127114] Thomas Spencer the co-founder of Marks & Spencer was born in Queen's Court, Skipton in 1858. [cite journal|date=2007-01-20|title=M&S may open in Skipton|journal=Telegraph & Argus|url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2007/1/20/191082.html|accessdate=2008-08-19] The American mathematician Thomas William Edmondson was born in Skipton in 1869.fact|date=August 2008 Geoffrey Dawson the editor of the "The Times" from 1912 to 1919 and from 1923 until 1941 was born in Skipton in 1874. [cite journal|date=1944-11-08|title=Obituary: Mr Geoffrey Dawson|journal=The Times]

Two politicians were born in Skipton; the former Conservative MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer Iain Macleod in 1913, [cite journal|last=Wright|first=Greg|date=2008-07-29|title=Words of a 'forgotten politician' have returned to haunt us|journal=Yorkshire Post|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business-comment/Greg-Wright-Words-of-a.4333401.jp|accessdate=2008-08-19] and the Labour MP Joan Humble in 1951. [cite web|url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/parliament/0,,-2597,00.html|title=Joan Humble > Biographical details|publisher=guardian.co.uk|accessdate=2008-08-19] Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's personal physician during the Second World War Charles Wilson the first Baron Moran was also born in Skipton in 1882. [cite web|url=http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/heritage/munksroll/munk_details.asp?ID=3182|title=Wilson, (Charles McMoran), Baron Moran of Manton|publisher=Royal College of Physicians|accessdate=2008-08-19]

The former Manchester City footballer Rick Holden was born in Skipton in 1964. [cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=3562|title=Rick Holden|publisher=Soccerbase|accessdate=2008-08-19] The actress Elaine Glover who has appeared in "Footballers' Wives" and "HolbyBlue" was born in Skipton in 1983. [cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1860360/bio|title=Biography for Elaine Glover|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2008-08-19]

ee also

* Skipton Castle
* History of Skipton
* Craven

References

External links

* [http://www.northyorks.com/skipton.htm Skipton Mini Guide]
* [http://www.skiptononline.co.uk Skipton Community Website]
* [http://www.skiptonweb.co.uk SkiptonWeb]
* [http://skipton.50webs.com/ Skipton Castle]
* [http://www.skiptoncastle.co.uk Skipton Castle]
* [http://www.skipton.co.uk Skipton Building Society]
* [http://www.freshradio.co.uk Fresh Radio]
* [http://www.skiptongolfclub.co.uk Golf Club]
* [http://www.thisisbradford.co.uk/bradford__district/the_dales Local news]
* [http://www.thisisbradford.co.uk/bradford__district/skipton/info/history.html Skipton History]
* [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/WRY/Skipton/SkiptonHistory.html Skipton History]
* [http://www.skiptonlittletheatre.org.uk/index.html Skipton Little Theatre]
* [http://www.bigboysontour.co.uk/skipton/index.shtml Skipton Night Out Reviews]
* [http://www.towpathtreks.co.uk/LLC/gargrave_skipton.html#skipton Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Skipton]
* [http://www.dotskipton.co.uk dotSkipton - a local information website]