The picturesque market town of Skipton in North Yorkshire regularly
features in newspaper polls as one of the best places to live in the UK.
With its ancient castle, scenic towpath beside the Leeds & Liverpool
Canal and beautiful surrounding countryside, it has also become a
popular destination for tourists visiting the Yorkshire Dales. Skipton
has not always been such an enviable place to live. In medieval times
its castle was frequently subject to violent attack and, during the
English Civil War, was besieged for three years as it held out as the
last Royalist stronghold in the North. Another key moment in Skipton's
history came at the turn of the nineteenth century with the construction
of the canal and the arrival of the cotton mills. This brought
prosperity to the town, but working conditions were harsh. The historic
buildings that line Skipton's streets point to its interesting past, but
how much of the detail has been lost with the passage of time? In Secret
Skipton, author Margaret Brecknell aims to rediscover some of the lost
stories of Skipton's past, focusing on the events and people that shaped
the town's history across the ages. Among the subjects covered are the
castle and its residents, special occasions, education and religion,
working life, wartime, leisure and notable buildings.
