Skipton Civic Society

13/06/2026

Skipton Civic Society Update 1
GUESTS OF THE NATION
A talk by Jane Lunnon on national and local responses in Craven to Belgian refugees during World War 1 is giving on June 20th at Skipton Friends Meeting House, The Ginnel, Newmarket Street. from 10.30 - 12.00. tea/coffee/cakes available for a small donation.
Part of Refugee Week. For more information follow the link below.

https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/26168686.courage-theme-refugee-week-june-15/

Skipton Civic Society Update 2
LOCAL HISTORY HERO
Anyone who has browsed the photos of old Skipton on the Rowley Elwood Website recently may be aware that Geoff Rowley and Ken Ellwood’s original collection has now been supplemented with the photos of Skipton taken by the father and son team of David and Charles Watkinson.

As the majority of the photos were taken during 50’s, 60’s and 70’s they are proving a very useful tool for Library staff working with those living with dementia by prompting long forgotten memories of the world they grew up in. Additionally the pictures of the slum clearance during this period are an invaluable resource for local historians – capturing, as they do, not only buildings but whole streets that have vanished without a trace!

‼️Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man‼️
A key player in making this valuable resource available to everyone, has been Library Volunteer, Matt Dobson, who over the last couple of years has patiently and methodically worked his way through the hundreds of Watkinson photos, carefully uploading them to the website and ensuring their accompanying details are correct.

In recognition of his dedication and the time and effort he has devoted to the task, the Civic Society was pleased to present him with a £40 gift card. Images show Committee member, Steve Wilton (left) presenting the card to Matt Dobson (right).

For his part, Matt said he found the work really positive - not only stimulating an interest in local history but also a sense of pride in helping to make this valuable resource available to everyone.

Not being a man to rest on his laurels, Matt is looking forward to helping with future initiatives - such as uploading the photos local photographer, Henry Meyer, has made available to the Library and working with a fellow Volunteer on her project to create an on-line catalogue of all Skipton Library’s local history resources.
If you would be like to help with any of the local history initiatives in and around
Skipton, contact the Library either through its page Skipton Library or by e-mailing -
[email protected]

Skipton Civic Society Update 3
Our Summer programme visit this year will be a trip to Morecambe on August 22nd. Plan is to catch the 10.57 train and return on the 17.32./ More details to follow! Our winter programme will start on October 7th with talks by Skipton Civic Society members. Details to follow!

25/05/2026

Come and meet us at the Skipton Rotary Ecoday in Skipton Town Hall this Saturday May 30th. We will be there along with many other local groups. In the past the has been an excellent event!!

07/05/2026

Skipton Civic Society will be at The Skipton Rotary Eco Day on Saturday 30th May in Skipton Town Hall from 11am -3pm. Always a fascinating day and Free Entry😊😊

07/05/2026

A fascinating talk last night to Skipton Civic Society by Edwin Rothwell of the Hearts Café on Swadford Street entitled ‘How Social Enterprise can enable asset-based regeneration and community wealth building in Skipton’.

Edwin manages ‘Heart of Skipton CIC’. A CIC is a Community Interest Company’ which is focused on supporting community initiatives and exploring potential funding, including the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire’s ‘High Street Fund’ to improve and develop Skipton.

The CIC is working closely with Skipton Bid, examining the street furniture and shops in the town, and looking at how they might be improved. Improving shop fronts and the width of the pavements in many parts of the town was mentioned and there is a need to rethink the width and timings of the Pelican crossings in the town. He is looking at how buildings might be repurposed to benefit the community-and an example of this might be the empty former Wildwood restaurant. He discussed the need to examine the buildings on the high street and consider how the upper floors might become residential. This prompted discussion on the high rents and rates of shops in the town.

Heart of Skipton is structured to benefit the local community - there are no shareholders and surplus is re-invested. He described the new Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026, requiring money spent in procurement decisions to be invested locally. If this legislation was extended to England, it would formalise current arrangements, and help Skipton by preventing a repeat of the situation where a Japanese company was brought in to design Skipton Bus Station.

His talk generated a lively discussion. If you get chance take a visit to the café on Swadford Street and find out more!

The talk was in the room at Craven Arts where an exhibition 'Wild and Free by Bridget March was on show. Definitely worth a visit - some lovely pieces of art! It is open Thursday to Sunday from 11-4PM until 31st May. For more information visit www.bridget-march.com

06/05/2026

‼️TONIGHT‼️Wednesday 6th May.

At 7.00pm Skipton Civic Society AGM followed at 7.30 with a presentation by Edwin Rothwell. Our final Speaker Evening before our summer break will talk on ......

‼️IS OUR HIGH STREET VIBRANT AND SUSTAINABLE?⁉️

Edwin will tell us about his work to raise awareness about the town's regeneration and improve the look of the town centre.
Improved signage and repairs to heritage shop fronts are planned.
All welcome!

Venue Craven Arts Craven Arts on Otley Street. Car parking available at the rear of the building.
Join us at 7pm for our Annual General Meeting and hear about the work of the Society, or come for Edwin's talk AT 7.30.
‼️UPDATE‼️ Civic Society Members. £3.00. Non members £5.00.

09/04/2026

‼️TOMORROW‼️
‼️GAWFLAT MEADOW WORKING PARTY‼️
This Saturday 11th April at 10.00 am meet at Aireville Park entrance to the meadow.. We will be cutting back brambles from the meadow path and filling in a few rabbit holes. Bring garden gloves and secateurs if you have some. Should take around an hour. All welcome! Might be wise to bring a waterproof 🌧️!

30/03/2026

‼️TONIGHT‼️
Our speaker on Wednesday 1st April at 7.30 will be Lyndon Marquis who will give a presentation on 'The work of the Yorkshire Peat Partnership'. Lyndon is the Peat Communications Manager at the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. He will consider.....

What are peatlands and why are they important?
Why are our peatlands damaged?
Restoration: why and how we do it
Research, data and evidence
Advocacy and engagement
What have we achieved and what’s next?

Should be a fascinating talk.
All welcome! Venue Craven Arts on Otley Street. Car parking available at the rear of the building. Skipton Civic Society members £3, guests £5.

30/03/2026

Give Peat a Chance is the subject of this Wednesday's talk by Lyndon Marquis of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust https://www.yppartnership.org.uk/ 7.30pm April 1st at Craven Arts House 55 Otley Street (the old school), Skipton. £2 members of Skipton Civic Society, £5 non-members All welcome. Lyndon is Peat Communications and Engagement Manager at YWT and will talk about this vital resource and efforts to restore or conserve it.

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23/03/2026

Proposed planning changes will undermine local voices even more

County council leaders are warning that the Government's planning reforms will strip local communities of their voice.

05/03/2026

Fascinating presentations last night by Steve Wilton on the origins of the Mechanics Institutes and Amy Robinson who is developing the former Skipton Mechanics Institute behind Skipton Library into Craven Community Hub. Images give an idea of some of the facilities available at the Hub.

Some of our followers may remember using the building when it was part of Craven College and used for student courses - catering students used the kitchens in the building to prepare meals which were served to the public. One of the evening courses I remember was a wine tasting course - required a bit of homework. 😊

Follow the link to find out what this addition to our towns resources and making excellent use of one of Skipton's historic buildings can offer.

https://cravenhub.org.uk/

Our next evening meeting will be on 1st April will be a presentation by Lyndon Marquis on ' The Work of the Yorkshire Peat Partnership'.

Details to follow

This Saturday our environment group will meet at the bottom of Castle Street at 10.00 am to check out the planting tubs we have provided. All welcome!