Skelmanthorpe

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Map sources for Skelmanthorpe at grid reference SE2310
Map sources for Skelmanthorpe at grid reference SE2310

Skelmanthorpe is a village in West Yorkshire, England with a population of 4,198 according to the 2001 census. It is part of the parish of Denby Dale in the Kirklees borough.

Contents

[edit] Name

A number of different explanations exist concerning the derivation of the name Skelmanthorpe:[1]

  • Originally was called Shalman, a Hebrew word meaning peace/peaceable
  • Having been the abode for Scheldt men (pronounced Skelt), a group of people displaced from the banks of the river Scheldt in Holland. Combining with 'Thorpe' meaning hamlet or village; the name literally means "Schelt man's village"
  • Place names recorded in the Icelandic Landnama such as Skalmarkelda (Skalmars Well) Skalmarnes (Skalmars Promontory) bear a striking similarity. Locally the name Skalmar would have been pronounced Skelmar/Skelmer leading to the form Skelmerthorpe. The name Skelmanthorpe can therefore be derived to 'Skalmar's Thorpe'.

Locals know it as "Shat", which appears to be an abbreviation of "Shatterers" which is what the locals were known as. Local labour was taken on during construction of the railway to break or 'shatter' rocks as well as work on the excavations. These unskilled labourers were referred to as Shatterers.[2]

[edit] History

[edit] Origins

The village was probably created during the Viking invasion in the 9th century, as they moved inland from the North Sea.[1] There is no record of the village in the earlier Roman times.

[edit] Domesday Book

The entry for Skelmanthorpe in the Domesday Book of 1086 states:[1]

Manors & Berewick. In Turulsetone and Berceworde and Scelmertorp, Alric and Aldene had nine carcucates of land to be taxed, and there may be five ploughs there. Ilbert now has it, and it is waste. Value in King Edwards time 4 pounds. Wood pasture one mile long and as much broad.

The comment "and it is waste." is a direct result of the Norman invasion of 1066. William the Conqueror had difficulties subduing his northern subjects, leading to the order "spare neither man nor beast, but to kill, burn and destroy" being issued.[1] This left Skelmanthorpe and much of Yorkshire a wasteland for around 9 years after the conquest.

[edit] Skelmanthorpe Feast

During the 1770s, Skelmanthorpe Feast was a riotous affair with bull and bear-baiting and organised dog fights on the village green.[3] A quote from John Taylor, who compiled a biography of Skelmanthorpe-born preacher Isaac Marsden (1807-1882), records that "Public houses were crowded with drunken revellers, who caroused all day and made night hideous with quarrels and disturbances...Among these scenes of revelry were mountebanks, showmen, fortune telling gypsies, vagabonds and thieves from every quarter."[3]

[edit] Native/Navvy War

In November 1874 a number of skirmishes were fought between the native villagers and Irish 'navvies'. The navvies had been brought in to help construct the railway, and fighting broke out between them and the locals on a number of occasions. This led to the locals being refused work on the line. Causing a small group of locals to throw stones at the navvies, who responded with mattock shafts and spades. The fighting lasted for most of the day eventually ending in the afternoon. Police were called in from Huddersfield but arrived after the disturbances had finished.[4]

[edit] Ownership

The first recorded owners of the village were Alric and Aldena in the 11th century, mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. Following the Norman invasion of England in 1066 the village was given to Ilbert de Laci by the new king, the de Laci family would remain the owners of the village for the next 300 years until through the marriage of Alice de Laci in the 14th century, the village came into the possession of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. The village remained in this family and after the marriage of Blanche of Lancaster to John of Gaunt, the village became the property of their son Henry (King of England).[1]

[edit] Cinema/Bingo/Squash

1934 saw the construction of a building to house a local cinema, this was the sole use of the building for almost 30 years. In 1961 wrestling was introduced to increase revenue. A reduction in audiences in 1968 resulted in the cinema closing and the building became a bingo hall until 1970 when the entire building was closed. It lay dormant for 5 years before being reopened as the Savoy Squash Club which continues to operate the building today.[5]

[edit] Industry

Similar to many village in the area, agriculture was the primary industry of Skelmanthorpe until the 19th century when weaving took over as the dominant occupation. Many of the older buildings in the village show signs of having been used as weavers cottages in the past[4]. As late as 1890, there were 200 hand looms in cottages in Skelmanthorpe[citation needed].

[edit] Buildings and services

[edit] Schools

Two schools are situated in Skelmanthorpe:

  • St Aidan's Church of England Voluntary Aided First School [1]
  • Skelmanthorpe First and Nursery School [2]

[edit] Churches

Skelmanthorpe currently has 4 churches:

[edit] Fire station

The fire station was constructed in 1956. It currently houses 1 pump & 1 area support unit along with 21 personnel. The station deals with around 140 incidents a year.[6]

[edit] Sports teams and facilities

The village has had its own cricket team since around 1876, with the current cricket pitch dating from 1900.[7]

Following a petition from local young people[8] fundraising allowed the construction of a small skatepark which opened early 2006.

[edit] Railway

From 1879 till 1986 Skelmanthorpe had a rail line passing along the north edge of the village. The line was closed to passengers in 1983 with the track being removed in 1986.

The disused trackbed was re-opened in 1992 as the Kirklees Light Railway; a narrow gauge railway used as a tourist attraction.[9]

[edit] Notable groups & events

Skelmanthorpe Brass Band is one of the oldest brass bands in the country dating back to 1843. From 2007 they will be competing in the First Section, having recently lost their Championship status held for 7 years.[10]

Skelmanthorpe was one of the locations for filming the 1970s television sitcom, Oh No, it's Selwyn Froggitt.[11]

Infamous Big Brother contestant Lesley Sanderson also hails from Skelmanthorpe.

[edit] Nearby places

Towns and cities: Barnsley, Huddersfield, Wakefield

Villages: Denby Dale, Clayton West, Emley, Lower Cumberworth, Scissett, Shelley

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Lawton, Fred (1895). Historical notes of Skelmanthorpe & district. Paul Dyson.
  2. ^ "Shat" name explanation. Skelmanthorpe Village Trail - A scenic self-guided walk around the historic village of Skelmanthorpe.. Retrieved on 2006-04-26.
  3. ^ a b Taylor, John (1882). Reminiscences of Isaac Marsden. T Woolmer.
  4. ^ a b Wilkinson, John (2002). Exploring the Upper Dearne Valley. Bridge Publications.
  5. ^ Squash club history. Savoy Squash Club - Information. Retrieved on 2006-04-26.
  6. ^ Skelmanthorpe fire station. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service - Skelmanthorpe. Retrieved on 2006-04-30.
  7. ^ Skelmanthorpe cricket club history. The Cricket History of Calerdale and Kirklees - Skelmanthorpe CC. Retrieved on 2006-04-26.
  8. ^ Skate-park petition. Annual Report of the Denby Dale Parish Council 2004 – 2005. Retrieved on 2006-04-26.
  9. ^ History of the rail line. Friends of the Kirklees Light Railway. Retrieved on 2006-04-30.
  10. ^ Brass Band. Innovate Skelmanthorpe Band. Retrieved on 2006-04-30.
  11. ^ Filming Location. Yorkshire on Film and TV, Northern England. Retrieved on 2006-04-30.
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