Skelmanthorpe

Name

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

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.

Origins

The village was probably created during the Viking invasion in the 9th century, as they moved inland from the North Sea. 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:

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 Harrying of the North of 1069. William the Conqueror had difficulties subduing his northern subjects, leading to the order to "spare neither man nor beast, but to kill, burn and destroy" being issued. This left Skelmanthorpe and much of Yorkshire a wasteland for about nine years.

Skelmanthorpe Feast

During the 1770s, Skelmanthorpe Feast was a riotous affair with bull and bear-baiting and organised dog fights on the village green. 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." 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 waltzers.

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.

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 owned 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).

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 five years before being reopened as the Savoy Squash Club. In June 2010, redevelopment of part of the Savoy Club will have been completed into a new Youth and Community Centre. This includes a new carpark, outdoor 5-a-side court, sports hall with a stage, meeting room and cafe.

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. As late as 1890, there were 200 hand looms in cottages in Skelmanthorpe..

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's owners are happy to take guided tours for individuals or groups of up to eight people on a pre-booked system.

Schools

Two schools are situated in Skelmanthorpe:

Churches

Skelmanthorpe currently has 5 churches:

Fire station

The fire station was constructed in 1956. It currently houses one pump and one area support unit along with 21 personnel. The station deals with around 140 incidents a year.

Sports teams and facilities

The village has had its own cricket team since around 1876; the current cricket pitch dates from 1900.

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 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.

Parkgate Sports and Community Trust have won the right for a new sports complex to be built at Parkgate.

Railway history

For more than 100 years, (from 1879 until 1986) Skelmanthorpe had a rail line passing along the northern edge of the village. The branch line was closed to passengers in 1983, and the track was lifted and removed (3 years later) in 1986.

The disused trackbed of the former branch line was later revived as minimum gauge and then re-opened in 1991/2 as the Kirklees Light Railway; a minimum gauge railway used as a tourist attraction.

Notable groups and events

Formed in 1843, the Skelmanthorpe Brass Band is one of the oldest brass bands in the country. They currently perform in the Championship Section of The National Brass Band Championships.

During the mid-1970s ... Skelmanthorpe was one of the locations used for the filming of the classic Yorkshire Television sitcom, Oh No, it's Selwyn Froggitt. starring Bill Maynard (of Heartbeat fame).

Actress Jodie Whittaker is from Skelmanthorpe. She has appeared in films including 'Venus and St. Trinians.

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