Skipton is in the West Riding, sixteen miles from Settle, forty-five from Lancaster, twenty-one from Halifax, twenty-five from Leeds, forty-five from York, and 222 from London. The place is almost hidden among precipices, in the midst of that rough rocky country called Craven. It stands near the river Are, and is a pretty large well-built town, considering the way of building in that mountainous tract.

Here is a grammar-school, to which a considerable parcel of books were given, some years ago, by Silvester Petyt, who gave a large and valuable library to the church; which though likewise destined for the use of the students of the grammar-school, has been miserably pillaged of its most valuable books, but there is however a considerable number remaining. The school has a beautiful house, garden, and pleasure-grounds, attached to it, being worth near 400l. per annum. The master is chosen by a majority of the vicar and churchwardens of the parish of Skipton, within one month after the demise of the last incumbent; in case of no election within that period, it devolves to Lincoln-college, Oxford; and in case of no appointment there, after one month, to the dean and chapter of St. Paul’s; after allowing the same space of time for appointing a master, and supposing the same failure or neglect, the choice recurs to the vicar and churchwardens; and revolves on the same ground and with the same conditions as before. Here is also a school, in which all the boys of the town are taught to sing psalms, by the parish-clerk, who is allowed a salary for it.

A town-house has been built lately in which the quarter sessions for the West Riding are held once a year.

The landed property of Skipton and its township is almost entirely vested in the hands of the Duke of Devonshire, and the Earl of Thanet, the latter of whom, possessing much the greater portion, is lord of the manor, holds an inferior court for the recovery of small debts, and regulates the weights and measures, &c. To him belongs the castle of Skipton, which was formerly visited by his father, and, at certain seasons, resided in; but is now deserted. It contains nothing but naked walls, or decayed tapestry; the paintings, &c. which related to the Clifford family, being removed to Appleby.

Fairs – Black Saturday, linen-cloth; March 23, cattle; Easter Tuesday, and every succeeding Tuesday fortnight, till Whitsuntide, cattle; Whitson Eve and Monday, for horses, cattle, sheep, woollen and linen cloths, leather, &c. Trinity-Eve, cattle; Palm Sunday Eve, cloth; St. James’s day (O.S.) cloth; and November 20, 22, and 23, for horses, cattle, &c. Besides these, a strong fair for fat and lean cattle, and sheep, is held once a fortnight on Tuesdays, through the year. On these days large quantities of live stock are brought from the neighbouring villages, also from Ripon, Richmond, Durham, Newcastle upon-Tyne, and other parts, which are sold in great measure to the dealers and butchers of Manchester, Bury, Warrington, Wigan, Liverpool, &c.

Here is a good market on Saturdays for all sorts of provisions, especially butcher’s meat. A considerable quantity of corn is brought hither from Knaresborough, Ripon, Richmond, &c. which is for the most part bought into Lancashire, for Colne, Burnley, Bury. &c.

The Leeds canal comes close to the town, and has warehouses for the reception of goods. It opens a channel of navigation to Bradford, Leeds, Selby, York, Hull, and the sea, on one side; and is at present carrying on to Colne, Burnley, Blackburn, Wigan, and Liverpool, on the other. All sorts of merchandise are received by it, together with supplies of coals from Bradford, and large quantities of lime-stone, &c. returned to the glass-works, iron-founderies, and lime-kilns, in the neighbourhoods of Bradford, Leeds, &c.

Manufactories – A paper-mill, and a glazing-mill, belonging to P. Garforth, Esq. A considerable twist-mill, Garforth & Sedgwick. A cotton-manufactory, Lockwood and Co. a ditto, Johnson and Co. a ditto, W. Chamberlain. Two capacious warehouses and other appendages in the worsted business, R. Hargreaves and Co. Some other gentleman have already commenced buildings for the weaving of muslin.

The principal inns are, the Black Horse, and the New Inn.

Post arrives every day from London :- It arrives on Sunday at ten o’clock in the morning, and departs at twelve, by way of Bradford; by the same way on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, arrives at ten in the morning, and departs at one in the afternoon. On these days, and Sunday, it is met by the Settle post, which immediately sets forward to Settle, Kirby Lonsdale, &c. – On Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, the post comes a six o’clock in the morning, goes forward to Settle, and leaves Skipton at two in the afternoon.

Carriage – J. Whitaker and Co. conveys goods by water from Leeds to Skipton, and forward to the extent of the canal; and goods are conveyed in the same manner betwixit Bradford and Skipton.

Samuel Atkinson’s waggon goes from Skipton to Lancaster; R. Clarkson’s from Halifax to Skipton and Settle; William Hartley’s from Skipton to Blackburn, Preston, &c. G. Neale’s from Skipton to Otley, Leeds, and York; and Anderson’s waggon from London to Carlisle.

The following are the principal inhabitants –

Gentry
Baynes John, Gent.
Blackburn William, Gent.
Tillotson Matthew, Gent.

Clergy
Marsden Rev. Mr. Vicar
Withnell Rev. Richard, Curate

Physic
Dixon Thomas, Surgeon
Hall David, Ditto
Mather ---, M.D.
Moorhouse William, Surgeon
Walker William, Druggist

Law
Alcock William, Attorney
Carr John, Ditto
Tindale Thomas, Ditto
Scofield John, Ditto

Traders, &c
Atkinson Richard, Architect
Atkinson Samuel, Carrier
Alcock William, Merchant
Baynes Geo. and Co. Cotton-spinners
Baynes F. Milliner
Bailey and Co. Liquor-merchants
Brown James, Grocer and Draper
Brown J. and Co. Cotton and Twist Spinners
Buck John, Fellmonger
Chamberlain William, Cotton-spinners
Chamberlain Geo. and Wm. Merchants
Chippindale R. Mercer
Campbill John, Grocer
Campbill C., Grocer
Goodin Peter, Bailiff to the Duke of Devonshire
Garforth Peter, Paper-maker
Garforth and Sedgwick, Cotton-spinners
Hulis John, Grazier, and Steward to the Earl of Thanet
Holmes John, Innholder
Horsfield James, Grocer
Kendal John, Canal Carrier
Lister Francis, Grazier
Lockwood Joshua, Grocer
Lockwood and Co. Cotton-spinners
Mitchell John, Grazier
Moorhouse Edward, Grazier
Netherwood Chr. Spirit-merchant
Netherwood and Brayshay, Tallow-chandlers
Netherwood, Johnson, and Co. Cotton-spinners
Newill John, Innholder
Robinson John, Mercer, and Agent to the Royal Exchange Fire-office
Sugden John, Sheriff’s-officer
Spencer and Grave, Ironmongers, &c.
Sharp Stephen, Auctioneer
Wilkinson Jas. Mercer and Postmaster

The following are the principal villages, &c. with their distances from Skipton, and their principal inhabitants:

Gisburn, eleven miles; Thomas Lister, Esq. lieut-colonel of the West Riding yeomanry cavalry, has a house and park at this place, which is on the borders of Lancashire, on the River Ribble, 220 miles from London. The market is on Monday, with six fairs, viz. On Easter Monday, the fortnight after Easter, the Monday before Whit-Sunday, Saturday in the same week, the Monday five weeks after Whit-Sunday, and September 19.

Gledstone House, 7 miles, the residence of the Rev. W. Roundell.

East Marton, five miles, Rev. R. Heber.

Broughton Hall, three miles S.W. Stephen Tempest, Esq.

Gargrave, four miles, --- Coulthurst, Esq. and the Rev. Mr. Croft, Vicar. In this place is a cotton manufactory, the property of Joseph Mason; and a warehouse on the Leeds canal. There is also a court for the recovery of small debts, under the Duke of Devonshire, held here. It stands between Skipton and Settle, divided by the river Are, which abounds with filth. "and has such a winding course (says Camden,) through the Ings between this and Skipton, and sports so in meanders from its very source, as if it was undetermined almost whether to run to the sea, or back to its fountain; for I was forced to cross it, in my direct road, no less than seven times in half an hour." The place is the yearly rendezvous of the gentlemen of Yorkshire and the adjacent counties for the hunting season. Fair December 11.

Eshton, between Skipton and Settle, five miles from the former, the residence of Matthew Wilson, Esq.

Airton, six miles. In this place is a twist manufactory, belonging to Messrs. Hartley, Maber, and Co.

Scalegill, seven miles. Messrs. Netherwood and Co. of Skipton, has a twist manufactory here.

Bellbusk, five miles. Here is a muslin manufactory, carried on by Messrs. Garforth, Halliwell, and Co.

Addingham, near Craven, six miles, where there are two worsted manufactories.

Hartlington, nine miles, in which place is a twist manufactory, belonging to J. Brown and Co. of Skipton.

Hebden, ten miles, where J. Holmes and Co. has a twist manufactory.

Linton, nine miles, in which place is a worsted manufactory. Here is a bridge over the river Wharfe, north of Barden Tower.

Grassington, nine miles. There are four fairs held here yearly, viz. March 4, April 24, June 29, and September 26.

Rilston, five miles; is situated in the parish of Burnsall, and is the residence of K. Waddilove, Drover; and – Foster, Grazier.

Arncliffe, fourteen miles; which is situated a little to the east of Pennygent-hill, and in it is a twist-mill belonging to Thomas Parker. Pennygent-hill Camden derives from the British word Pengwin, i.e. white-head, from the snow lying upon it. Turning short north-east, you come to the great road leading northward to Richmond, at a village called Burnsall, noted for the birth of Sir. Wm. Craven, an alderman of London, who was a great founder and builder of churches, bridges, causeways, and other public edifices, in this country.

Stuton, seven miles, where resides Thomas Garforth, Esq.

Carr-Head, seven miles, William Wainman, Esq.

Cononley, three miles S.W. --- Swire, Esq.

Kildwick, five miles, Rev. R. Marsden, Vicar.

Eastby, two miles, at which place is a twist-mill, Messrs. Carr and Chippindale, proprietors.

Embsay, one mile. Here are two twist-mills; one belonging to William Baynes, Esq. and the other to Thomas Whitehead. Messrs. G. Baynes and Co. have likewise at this place a manufactory for that branch of cotton-spinning performed by mules.

Embsay-Kirk, the property of Wm. Baynes, Esq. now inhabited by P. Garforth, jun. is about two miles from Skipton, and built on the ruins of an ancient monastery, granted to certain canons regular of the order of St. Austin, A.D. 1120, who about thirty years after removed to –

Bolton, six miles E. from Skipton, distinguished by the remains of the abbey, and a beautiful and romantic situation on the river Wharfe. It is visited on account of the abbey, the scenery, and a place called the Stride, in which the river, roaring amidst impending woods, is so straightened by immense masses of rock as to render it easy for any one to cross it with a stride. The Rev. Wm. Carr resides at Bolton.

 © Angela Petyt 2001. All rights reserved.

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