HISTORY
OF
SKELTON VILLAGE
YORK
Name: Originally Shelfton 0r Scelfton,
meaning a settlement on a shelf
8th century approx Anglo - Saxon name given to a small settlement on a ridge of land just above the 50 ft. contour. The original settlers must have begun to drain the marshy land around to cultivate it, and dug out the ditches which still surround the village - Hurns Gutter, White Sike, Pennells Drain and Burtree Dam.
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1088 |
Domesday Book records a manor with a hall in Skeltun, belonging partly to St Peter's (York Minster) and partly to Earl Alan, a French nobleman and a supporter of William the Conqueror. |
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Medieval period |
Village laid out with a street plan similar to the old village centre today, and open fields for strip farming. South Field, North field, Park Field, Well Field. Brecks Field was a later addition. |
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1247 |
Skelton Church built by the Treasurer of York Minster. |
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16th century |
Skelton Manor built. |
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1538 |
Parish registers began. Most of Skelton was in the parish of Overton until the 1870's. |
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1630 |
Earliest known map of Skelton, at the time of the disforestation of The Forest of Galtres. This shows the parish boundaries which have persisted into the 21st century. |
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1644 |
Civil War. Skelton had to pay a £126 tax, and a wagon and horses, to the Royalists. Troops camped around Skelton the night before the Battle of Marston Moor, crossing the Ouse by "bridge of boats" at Overton. |
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1675 |
Skelton Grange built (re-built in the 19th century), by the Place family. Demolished in the 1970s. |
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1745 |
Threat from advancing army of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Plans made by some villagers to escape by boat. Preparations for boarding up of the church. |
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1752 |
The Kings Highway was turnpiked, and a toll bar cottage built at Skelton. |
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1806 |
Enclosure Act. The End of the open fields. Land was divided between six landowners. |
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1815 |
Fairfield Manor built, owned at one time by racehorse breeders. It later became a hospital and is now a Hotel. |
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1831 |
Skelton Hall built by Mary Thompson. Benefactor to school and church. |
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1840 Approx |
School opened in Pyramid House |
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1864 |
Moorlands House built 2 miles outside the village. Owned by the Tew family, then became a hospital The wood is now owned by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. The house is in private ownership. |
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1873 |
C of E School built, replacing Pyramid House. Now the Village Hall. |
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1898 |
Churchyard closed for burials, replaced by a burial ground outside the village on Moorlands Road. |
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1914 - 1918 |
First World War 57 villagers served in the forces and 6 were killed. Memorial Lychgate erected at the entrance to the cemetery - British Legion hut erected after the war. Now Skelton Social and Ex-Servicemens Club. |
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1939 - 1945 |
Second World War. 22 Men and 2 Women served and 2 were killed. Evacuees and troops billeted in village. Air raid shelters constructed under the village green. |
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1955 - 1959 |
School moved to Skelton Primary School, Brecksfield. The old school was opened as Skelton Village Hall. |
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20th Century
Housing Development |
Very few new houses built until after 1945. Population grew from 274 in 1901 to about 1600 in the early years of the 21st century. The Meadows and Brecksfield built in 1950s, The Dell and The Vale from the early 1960s and Grange Park in the late 1970s. |
SKELTON TODAY
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Administration |
Skelton now has a population of over 1300 in some 665 households. Being clearly separated from neighbouring communities by surrounding farmland it has managed to retain many characteristics of village life, despite its proximity to
Administratively it is part of the Unitary Authority of the City of York Council. The Ward of Skelton, Rawcliffe and Clifton Without elects three councillors to the City of York Council.
Skelton Parish Council is elected by the residents of the parish to administer local matters. |
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Structure | The vast majority of dwellings are grouped to the south and north of the two roads which lead off the A19 trunk road to the village - the modern Fairfields Drive and the ancient St Giles Road - The Village - Moorlands Road route.
To the east and north are located scattered dwellings across the broad farmlands, whilst across the A19 to the west are also a few houses but mainly commercial undertakings, including a food processing factory, a garden centre/nursery, a hotel and ambulance HQ. |
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Services |
The Village Hall, overseen by a committee of residents, is used by several organisations for their meetings and events, and is available for private hire. The Blacksmiths Arms public house and the Social Club provide refreshment and relaxation, whilst spiritual needs are catered for at St Giles church on The Green and by the
The Surgery and village shop and post office complete the range of village facilities.
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Young People |
For the under fives a pre school play group meets in the Village Hall in term time. The first stage of formal education up to age eleven is provided in the village at the
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Skelton Community Primary School
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Organisations |
Skelton has a number of organisations covering a wide range of interests:
Gardening Club Women's Institute Football and Recreation Club Village Trust History Group Walking Group Friends of Skelton Pond (ecology project and village amenity)
FOR CONTACT DETAILS FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE FACILITIES AND ORGANISATIONS GET IN TOUCH WITH A MEMBER OF THE VILLAGE TRUST COMMITTEE. |
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Other Amenities |
There are two golf courses within Skelton parish, the
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