Cononley
Encyclopedia
Cononley is a village and civil parish
in the Craven
district of North Yorkshire
, England
. In the Aire Valley
3 miles south of Skipton
and with an estimated population of 1,080 (2001 est.). It is situated near the A629 creating easy access to Skipton
, Keighley
and other nearby settlements. Also joined to the Leeds-Carlisle railway, the village has commuter access to Leeds
and Bradford
.
The village is served by Cononley railway station
.
It is clear that most of the dwellings in Cononley date back to mostly the 17th century; the oldest surviving building (Milton House) dates from 1635,however it is rumoured that The Old Hall part of Cononley Hall which was thought to have been a Jacobite safe house in the 18th Century(escape tunnel in the fire place) could be much older and has a stone in the loft dated 1436!!, whilst the other half mostly date back to the first half of the 19th century which was when the village was a centre for hand loom weaving and lead mining.
By 1851, the population of Cononley had grown to 1,272. In the late 19th century most of the citizens of Cononley were employed in one of the two textile
mills
in the village. Back then Cononley was physically in the West Riding of Yorkshire
whereas now it is in North Yorkshire
.
Today, with a population of 1,080 (2001 census), farming is still significant as well as there being still a few local businesses. The number of people employed in industry within the village has radically declined over the last 25 years.
Housing development in the 20th century was very limited due to the lack of economic growth. Even so, the village is a quite popular place to live with its predominant stone buildings.
As well as part of the working community in the village commuting to Skipton
and Keighley
, a large number also travel large distances which is made possible by the frequent electric trains to Leeds
and Bradford
.
The village has a joint Anglican-Methodist church, a primary school, two pubs and a post office.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in 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...
. In the Aire Valley
Airedale
Airedale is a geographic area in Yorkshire, England, corresponding to the river valley of the River Aire . The valley stretches from the river's origin in Malham which is in the Yorkshire Dales, down past Keighley and Bingley, through Leeds and Castleford and on to join the Humber...
3 miles south of Skipton
Skipton
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, northwest of Bradford and west of York...
and with an estimated population of 1,080 (2001 est.). It is situated near the A629 creating easy access to Skipton
Skipton
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, northwest of Bradford and west of York...
, Keighley
Keighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
and other nearby settlements. Also joined to the Leeds-Carlisle railway, the village has commuter access to 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...
.
The village is served by Cononley railway station
Cononley railway station
Cononley railway station serves the village of Cononley in North Yorkshire, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Northern Rail....
.
History and information
The settlement dates back to medieval times when much of the cultivated land formed part of the estate of Bolton Priory.By 1851, the population of Cononley had grown to 1,272. In the late 19th century most of the citizens of Cononley were employed in one of the two textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
mills
Cotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
in the village. Back then Cononley was physically in 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...
whereas now it is in 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...
.
Today, with a population of 1,080 (2001 census), farming is still significant as well as there being still a few local businesses. The number of people employed in industry within the village has radically declined over the last 25 years.
Housing development in the 20th century was very limited due to the lack of economic growth. Even so, the village is a quite popular place to live with its predominant stone buildings.
As well as part of the working community in the village commuting to Skipton
Skipton
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, northwest of Bradford and west of York...
and Keighley
Keighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
, a large number also travel large distances which is made possible by the frequent electric trains to 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...
.
The village has a joint Anglican-Methodist church, a primary school, two pubs and a post office.