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Historical buildings consultant, and member of UWHG, Sue Wrathmell, provided us with an update on the Skipton Community Research Project, run under the auspices of the Skipton Civic Society with help from members of other local groups, including UWHG.
The first phase of the project is now virtually over, with the first of the free information leaflets on the architectural history of the high street now published, and several more nearing completion.
Set against the current concerns regarding conservation, the Project has an important part to play in raising public awareness of the richness of Skipton’s heritage at a time when there are increasing threats to the character of the town, and a lack of a portfolio of evidence to inform planning bodies about the architectural heritage of Skipton.
Using contemporary maps and plans, Sue showed how the nature of the town centre was determined in the mediaeval period by the Castle estate, and how this led to congestion. By the 1840s the ginnels and yards (of which there were 28) behind the High Street had become overcrowded with houses.
By the end of the nineteenth century, the High Street had developed into a commercial centre, with the development of suburbs and terraced housing to take the residential overspill. The rapid growth of the town in the Victorian period has become a major focus for the Skipton Community Research Project, as a database of local architects has been gathered together.
Indeed, the whole project has continued to develop and broaden its horizons as more and more information has been unearthed. Beginning with the portfolio of building frontages and listed buildings specifications, it has grown to include census and newspaper data, the transcription of the huge “Rowley Collection” of archival material relating to the history of the town centre, and background research into important influences on the town’s economic development such as the railway and canal. With over 30 listed buildings in the High Street alone, and a total of about 60 across the whole town, Sue now feels the project has highlighted the need for the inspection and possible listing of many more.
The work of the Project continues and we look forward to the publication of the next few leaflets.
Further information:
Skipton Renaissance Partnership
Historic maps and views of Skipton – Golden Jubilee project (2003) -
The Rowley Collection (historic photographs of Skipton)
Jane Lunnon (UWHG archivist)
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