Skelmanthorpe
| Skelmanthorpe | |
 Commercial Road |
|
  Skelmanthorpe Skelmanthorpe shown within West Yorkshire | |
| OS grid reference | SE233105 |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan borough | Kirklees |
| Metropolitan county | West Yorkshire |
| Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament | Dewsbury |
Skelmanthorpe is a village in West Yorkshire, England with a population of 4,198 according to the 2001 census.[1] It is part of the parish of Denby Dale in the Kirklees borough.
Skelmanthorpe was a site in the Survey of English Dialects. The recording taken was notable both because of the rich form of dialect used and because it discussed a local sighting of a ghost. This stood out in the survey, where most recordings were taken of villagers discussed local industries.
Name
A number of different explanations exist concerning the derivation of the name Skelmanthorpe:[2]
- 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 the Netherlands. 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.[3]
History
Origins
The village was probably created during the Viking invasion in the 9th century, as they moved inland from the North Sea.[2] There is no record of the village in the earlier Roman times.
Domesday Book
The entry for Skelmanthorpe in the Domesday Book of 1086 states:[2]
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.[2] This left Skelmanthorpe and much of Yorkshire a wasteland for around 9 years after the conquest.
Skelmanthorpe Feast
During the 1770s, Skelmanthorpe Feast was a riotous affair with bull and bear-baiting and organised dog fights on the village green.[4] 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."[4] Skelmanthorpe Feast now happens every year on the field next to The Chartist and across the road from what was the Three Horse Shoes public house and is now shops. It has numerous different fairground rides such as slides and waltzes.
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.[5]
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).[2]
Cinema/Bingo/Squash/Youth Centre
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.[6] In December 2009, redevelopment of the Savoy Club will have been completed into a new Youth Centre.
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.[5] As late as 1890, there were 200 hand looms in cottages in Skelmanthorpe[citation needed].
Number 6, Queen Street is now preserved by local historians as a private Textile Heritage Centre, complete with hand loom and all the associated equipment. Although not able to open to the public the Centre owners are happy to take guided tours for individuals or groups of up to eight people on a pre-booked system.
Buildings and services
Restaurants
Two restaurants are situated in Skelmanthorpe:
- Volare Mediterranean Restaurant serving English, Spanish, Italian, Moroccan, Tunisian, Portuguese and French food.
- Solos Indian Restaurant
Schools
Two schools are situated in Skelmanthorpe:
Churches
Skelmanthorpe currently has 5 churches:
- Church of St Aidan - (Church of England - Anglican)
- Skelmanthorpe Methodist Church[7]
- Trinity Evangelical Church
- Skelmanthorpe Wesleyan Reform Church (now closed)
- Saville Road Hall (Christian - non-denominational)
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.[8]
Sports teams and facilities
The village has had its own cricket team since around 1876, with the current cricket pitch dating from 1900.[9]
The village also has its own junior and senior football teams that play in the Huddersfield leagues respectively.
There are two crown green bowls clubs within the village. One club is based at the Windmill Pub on the outskirts of the village and the other club based in the centre of the village. Each club have their own bowling green.
Following a petition from local young people[10] fundraising allowed the construction of a small skatepark which opened early 2006. Residents from the area complained about the noise and the skatepark has since been moved. It is now at the bottom of the football field.[11]
Parkgate Sports and Community Trust have won the right for a new sports complex to be built at Parkgate.[citation needed]
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.[12]
Notable groups & events
Formed in 1843, the Skelmanthorpe Brass Band is one of the oldest brass bands in the country.[13] They currently perform in the Championship Section of The National Brass Band Championships.[14]
Skelmanthorpe was one of the locations for filming the 1970s television sitcom, Oh No, it's Selwyn Froggitt.[15]
Skelmanthorpe Community Action Group (SCAG)
Actress Jodie Whittaker hails from Skelmanthorpe. She has been in films such as 'Venus' and 'St. Trinians'
Contestant on CBBC show Escape from Scorpion Island Sam Fraser hails from Skelmanthorpe.
2012 BBC Young Musician of the Year Brass category finalist Jonathan Bates hails from Skelmanthorpe.
Infamous Big Brother contestant Lesley Sanderson also hails from Skelmanthorpe.
The lead singer of the heavy-metal band Saxon, Biff Byford, was raised in Skelmanthorpe and attended Skelmanthorpe Primary School
Nearby places
Towns and cities: Barnsley, Huddersfield, Wakefield
Villages: Denby Dale, Clayton West, Emley, Lower Cumberworth, Scissett, Shelley, Shepley
References
- ↑ http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/community/statistics/census-by-settlement/KS02settle2003.xls
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lawton, Fred (1895). Historical notes of Skelmanthorpe & district. Paul Dyson.
- ↑ ""Shat" name explanation". Skelmanthorpe Village Trail - A scenic self-guided walk around the historic village of Skelmanthorpe. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Taylor, John (1882). Reminiscences of Isaac Marsden. T Woolmer.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Wilkinson, John (2002). Exploring the Upper Dearne Valley. Bridge Publications.
- ↑ "Squash club history". Savoy Squash Club - Information. Retrieved 2006-04-26.
- ↑ "Zoom closure". Pages.zoom.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
- ↑ "Skelmanthorpe fire station". West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service - Skelmanthorpe. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ↑ "Skelmanthorpe cricket club history". The Cricket History of Calerdale and Kirklees - Skelmanthorpe CC. Retrieved 2006-04-26.
- ↑ "Skate-park petition". Annual Report of the Denby Dale Parish Council 2004–2005. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ↑ "Skate-park". December minutes of the Denby Dale Parish Council 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ↑ "History of the rail line". Disused Stations. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ↑ "Band history". Innovate Skelmanthorpe Band. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ↑ "Band standings". Regional Contest Skelmanthorpe Info. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ↑ "Filming Location". Yorkshire on Film and TV, Northern England. Retrieved 2006-04-30.
External links
Media related to Skelmanthorpe at Wikimedia Commons