An ancient economic hub, Skipton in North Yorkshire is a place built on wool, where layers of history are interwoven and its peaceful waterways wait to be explored
ON AN OCTOBER morning, the North Yorkshire market town of Skipton looks resplendent bathed in the soft light of autumn. Trees have taken on their seasonal shades of ochre, russet and gold; a light mist swirls above the canal that meanders through the town; and the buff-toned stone of the buildings has acquired a mellow glow. An important historic and economic hub for the southern part of the Yorkshire Dales, Skipton has a rich and varied past: one which combines medieval buildings, sheep farming, and the Industrial Revolution.
The heart of the town is the wide High Street, with cobbled sections either side of the road that are home on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays to the town’s market, where street traders gather to sell all manner of goods. Skipton, in the old district of Craven, was recorded in the Domesday Book, which was completed in 1086, and its name derives from the Anglo-Saxon words ‘sceap’, meaning sheep, and ‘ton’, or town. In 1204, the town was granted a charter by King John to hold weekly markets, where sheep and foodstuffs were traded. This developed to include a range of livestock, with individual farmers bargaining with one another and agreeing deals that would have been sealed with handshakes. Today, Skipton has a purpose-built auction mart on the outskirts of the town, which holds pedigree livestock sales throughout the year and is one of the leading markets in Britain for working sheepdogs. A short journey from the town by car or public transport, visitors are welcome to experience the sights and sounds of this quintessential part of country life.
Skipton’s High Street would have also been the location for hiring fairs, or mop fairs, which were a common part of rural life from the 1300s and continued in some parts of Britain until the mid 20th century. Held in autumn, the hiring fairs gave farmers the opportunity to recruit labourers and servants for the year ahead. It became a firm fixture in the calendar; a social event, with a holiday-like atmosphere, that gained a reputation for raucous behaviour.
Built on wool
While fewer local people now work in agriculture, it is still important to the identity of the town, and particularly its connection with sheep. Skipton Sheep Day, which is held in summer on the High Street, celebrates the town’s heritage with sheep displays, sheep racing,
