Skelton, York
Encyclopedia
Skelton is a village and civil parish
in the unitary authority
of the City of York, in North Yorkshire
England
. It is 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of the city of York
, west of Haxby
, and on the east bank of the River Ouse
. Skelton was in the ancient royal Forest of Galtres
and covers 977.3 hectares (3.77 square miles). Skelton was made a conservation area
in 1973.
The village name probably began as the Anglo-Saxon ‘Shelfton’ – ‘the settlement on high ground’– becoming the present ‘Skelton’ under the invading Danes. The village, along with nearby Overton, is mentioned in the Domesday Book.
According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,640. Prior to 1996 it had been part of the Ryedale
district.
, but its name indicates Anglo-Saxon and Danish influences.
Skelton Grange which was built by the Place family originally in 18th century and rebuilt after fire in 1866. 'The Grange' was finally sold in 1981 due to a lack of funds for upkeep. It was demolished by a local property developer for a large housing development on the site.
The York Corporation bought Fairfield House on the opposite side of the main Road in 1918 and opened it as a tuberculosis sanatorium in the following year. It is now a Hotel. A tuberculosis dispensary was also opened in Castlegate in 1913, but no longer exists.
Skelton Parish Council is elected by the residents of the parish to administer local matters and consists of nine Councillors.
The flora and fauna was documented in two surveys, one in 1956 and later in 1971. In and around the village the surveys identified 100 species of bird, 328 species of trees and plants, 8 different ferns, 31 different types of moss, 9 fungi and amphibians including frogs, toads, theWarty or Crested Newt and the Smooth Newt. Also recorded were 21 species of mammals including the Whiskered Bat and the Long Eared Bat. The bats and the Crested Newts in the village are protected species.
In the village open spaces have been cared for by the Parish Council and local volunteer groups and include The Green, Crooking Green, Orchard Field, The Pasture, Skelton Pond, the open spaces at Sycamore Close and Brecksfield.
The long, narrow plot boundaries extending back from the present houses are an example of the typical mediaeval pattern of ‘toft and croft’ agriculture.
.
There had been attempts to turnpike the York-Northallerton road that passed through Skelton in 1749, but failed. The scheme was revived in 1752 when the York Corporation sought that no gate should be nearer to York than the north end of Skelton, and that the section of the road nearer York should be repaired first. The Turnpike Trust was established in 1753. The trust was renewed in 1778, 1794, 1808, 1830, and by the Continuance Acts until 1874.
The village is served by four bus services as part of the York to Easingwold route, two further services as part of the York to Thirsk route and one local service to York that enters the village itself.
The Church of St. Giles, formerly known as All Saints, dates from 1247, having been restored between 1810and 1818 by Henry Graham and 1863 by Ewan Christian. There is a local myth that it was built, in 1227, with the stones that remained after the building of the south transept of York Minster, and so why it is sometimes called "Little St. Peter's". There is probably some truth in this as the following extract from Archbishop Grey's roll shows that its building took place previous to the year 1247:-
"Confirmation of a donation to the chapel of Skelton. To all, etc. The donation which our beloved son in Christ, Master E. Hagitur, treasurer of York, made to John de l'Edes, clerk of the chapel of Skelton, considering it to be agreeable and satisfactory to us, we confirm the same by our Pontificial authority, desiring the said treasurer, and his successors, to pay annually the sum of 20d. to this parson. In witness whereof, &c., &c. Dated at Thorp, on the 6th day of the Ides of December, A.D. 1247."
The register dates from the year 1538.
The Blessed John Nelson
, whose Feastday is February 3, was a Jesuit martyr born in Skelton. He was ordained at Douai at the age of forty ands ent to London in 1576 where he was arrested and martyred at Tyburn by being hanged, drawn, and quartered. John became a Jesuit just before his death.
Notable residents include author, Justin Hill
, whose family home was here from 1985-2004.
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 unitary authority
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
of the City of York, 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...
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...
. It is 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of the city of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, west of Haxby
Haxby
Haxby is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of City of York, on the River Foss, five miles north of York and south of Strensall, in North Yorkshire, England. Haxby is bordered on the east by the River Foss, and to the west by the village of Wigginton, whose expansion has caused the...
, and on the east bank of the River Ouse
River Ouse, Yorkshire
The River Ouse is a river in North Yorkshire, England. The river is formed from the River Ure at Cuddy Shaw Reach near Linton-on-Ouse, about 6 miles downstream of the confluence of the River Swale with the River Ure...
. Skelton was in the ancient royal Forest of Galtres
Forest of Galtres
The royal Forest of Galtres was established by the Norman kings of England in North Yorkshire, to the north of the county town of York, extending right to its very walls.. The main settlement within the royal forest was the market village of Easingwold, but in 1316 the forest comprised 60 villages...
and covers 977.3 hectares (3.77 square miles). Skelton was made a conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
in 1973.
The village name probably began as the Anglo-Saxon ‘Shelfton’ – ‘the settlement on high ground’– becoming the present ‘Skelton’ under the invading Danes. The village, along with nearby Overton, is mentioned in the Domesday Book.
According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,640. Prior to 1996 it had been part of the Ryedale
Ryedale
Ryedale is a non-metropolitan district of the shire county of North Yorkshire in England. Settlements include Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Malton, Norton-on-Derwent, Pickering, and Terrington.-Derivation of name:...
district.
History
Skelton is mentioned in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
, but its name indicates Anglo-Saxon and Danish influences.
Skelton Grange which was built by the Place family originally in 18th century and rebuilt after fire in 1866. 'The Grange' was finally sold in 1981 due to a lack of funds for upkeep. It was demolished by a local property developer for a large housing development on the site.
The York Corporation bought Fairfield House on the opposite side of the main Road in 1918 and opened it as a tuberculosis sanatorium in the following year. It is now a Hotel. A tuberculosis dispensary was also opened in Castlegate in 1913, but no longer exists.
Governance
Skelton is part of the Unitary Authority of the City of York Council. As of 2010 the Ward of Skelton, Rawcliffe and Clifton Without is represented by Councillors Richard Moore and Irene Waudby of the local Liberal Democrat Party and by Joe Watt of the local Conservative party.Skelton Parish Council is elected by the residents of the parish to administer local matters and consists of nine Councillors.
Demography
In 1890 its population was recorded as 313.By 1901 the village was recorded as comprising 2473 acres with a population of 270 having varied over the previous hundred years between 203 and 367, most employed in servicing these large houses and in agriculture. In 1951 the population was still only about 481 but then expanded rapidly. As of 2001 the population stood at 1,640.Economy
The village was primarily agricultural in nature, but is now mostly residential with a small commercial district to the south west of the village. Local Services consist of a Post Office and General Store, one Public House and one Social Club, and a Doctor's Surgery.Geography
The old village centre stands on a deposit of boulder clay, taking this section to a height some 25 metres above sea level, 10 metres more than the remainder of the village which is on strong clay, resting on gravel and sand. Within the settlement are several ponds, indicating a high water table.The flora and fauna was documented in two surveys, one in 1956 and later in 1971. In and around the village the surveys identified 100 species of bird, 328 species of trees and plants, 8 different ferns, 31 different types of moss, 9 fungi and amphibians including frogs, toads, theWarty or Crested Newt and the Smooth Newt. Also recorded were 21 species of mammals including the Whiskered Bat and the Long Eared Bat. The bats and the Crested Newts in the village are protected species.
In the village open spaces have been cared for by the Parish Council and local volunteer groups and include The Green, Crooking Green, Orchard Field, The Pasture, Skelton Pond, the open spaces at Sycamore Close and Brecksfield.
The long, narrow plot boundaries extending back from the present houses are an example of the typical mediaeval pattern of ‘toft and croft’ agriculture.
Transport
The main North road out of the village from York was a turnpike and then in the last century became a major trunk route the A19A19 road
The A19 is a major road in England running approximately parallel to and east of the A1 road, although the two roads meet at the northern end of the A19, the two roads originally met at the southern end of the A19 in Doncaster but the old route of the A1 was changed to the A638. From Sunderland...
.
There had been attempts to turnpike the York-Northallerton road that passed through Skelton in 1749, but failed. The scheme was revived in 1752 when the York Corporation sought that no gate should be nearer to York than the north end of Skelton, and that the section of the road nearer York should be repaired first. The Turnpike Trust was established in 1753. The trust was renewed in 1778, 1794, 1808, 1830, and by the Continuance Acts until 1874.
The village is served by four bus services as part of the York to Easingwold route, two further services as part of the York to Thirsk route and one local service to York that enters the village itself.
Education
A School was built in 1872. It accommodated 120 children, and had an average attendance of about half that number. Now primary education is catered for at Skelton Community Primary School located in Brecksfield. The village is within the Local Education Authority catchment area for Canon Lee Secondary School on Rawcliffe Drive in nearby Clifton WithoutReligion
"Confirmation of a donation to the chapel of Skelton. To all, etc. The donation which our beloved son in Christ, Master E. Hagitur, treasurer of York, made to John de l'Edes, clerk of the chapel of Skelton, considering it to be agreeable and satisfactory to us, we confirm the same by our Pontificial authority, desiring the said treasurer, and his successors, to pay annually the sum of 20d. to this parson. In witness whereof, &c., &c. Dated at Thorp, on the 6th day of the Ides of December, A.D. 1247."
The register dates from the year 1538.
Notable landmarks and residents
The Church of St. Giles is a Grade I listed building, dating from 1247 and there are some Grade II Listed buildings such as Skelton Manor and Pyramid House. The old Toll Bar Cottage was built when the road north was turnpiked. The George VI post box in the wall of the old post office, and the mounting block outside the Blacksmiths Arms.The Blessed John Nelson
John Nelson (martyr)
John Nelson was an English Jesuit martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I.Nelson was from Skelton, York. He was nearing 40 when he left for Douai in 1573 for training as a priest. Two of his four brothers would later follow him there to become priests...
, whose Feastday is February 3, was a Jesuit martyr born in Skelton. He was ordained at Douai at the age of forty ands ent to London in 1576 where he was arrested and martyred at Tyburn by being hanged, drawn, and quartered. John became a Jesuit just before his death.
Notable residents include author, Justin Hill
Justin Hill
Justin Hill is an English novelist whose novels have been nominated for the Man Booker Prize three times. Born in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island in 1971, he grew up in Yorkshire. He was educated at the historic St Peter's School, York....
, whose family home was here from 1985-2004.