Editing Skelmanthorpe

{{short description|Village in West Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| coordinates              = {{coord|53.591|-1.649|display=inline,title}}
| label_position           = top
| official_name            = Skelmanthorpe
| local_name               = Shat
| population               = 4,549
| population_ref           = ([[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]])<ref name="2011 census"/>
| civil_parish             = [[Denby Dale]]
| metropolitan_borough     = [[Kirklees]]
| metropolitan_county      = [[West Yorkshire]]
| region                   = Yorkshire and the Humber
| constituency_westminster = [[Ossett and Denby Dale (UK Parliament constituency)|Ossett and Denby Dale]]
| post_town                = HUDDERSFIELD
| postcode_district        = HD8
| postcode_area            = HD
| dial_code                =
| os_grid_reference        = SE233105
| static_image_name        = Skelmanthorpe - geograph.org.uk - 117386.jpg
| static_image_caption     = Commercial Road 
}}

'''Skelmanthorpe''', known locally as '''Shat''',<ref>{{cite web|last=Robinson|first=Andrew|title= The Yorkshire village called 'Shat' where people are 'shatters' - and why people love its rude nickname|website=YorkshireLive|date=10 February 2023|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/yorkshire-village-called-shat-people-26210657}}</ref> is a village in the [[Denby Dale]] [[civil parish]], in the metropolitan borough of [[Kirklees]], in [[West Yorkshire]], England. It is {{Convert|9|mi|km}} south-east of [[Huddersfield]]. According to the 2011 census, the village had a population of 4,549.<ref name="2011 census">{{NOMIS2011|id=1119884713|title=Skelmanthorpe Built-up area|accessdate=29 November 2018}}</ref>

The village sits on the south ([[bank (geography)|right]]) bank of the first river-like flow, from three small headwaters (uniting in the northwest corner of the parish), of the [[River Dearne|Dearne]].

==Name==

The village was recorded as ''Scelmertorp'' in the [[Domesday Book]] in the year [[1086 AD]]. The name derives from the [[Old Norse|Norse]] [[personal name]] ''Skjaldmarr'' and ''[[thorp]]''; thus having the meaning of an "outlying farmstead of a man called Skjaldmarr".<ref name=Simpson>{{cite book |last1=Mills |first1=David |title=A dictionary of British place-names |date=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0199609086 |page=422}}</ref>

Locals know it as "Shat", which appears to be an abbreviation of "Shatterers", the name by which the locals are known. 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.<ref name=shat>{{cite web|title="Shat" name explanation |work=Skelmanthorpe Village Trail – A scenic self-guided walk around the historic village of Skelmanthorpe. |url=http://www.denbydale.com/content/skelmanthorpe_trail |access-date=23 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725115847/http://www.denbydale.com/content/skelmanthorpe_trail |archive-date=25 July 2008 }}</ref> The ''[[Doctor Who]]'' actress [[Jodie Whittaker]] has explained the origins of the term and referred to herself as a "Shat lass".<ref name=lass>[https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/tv/watch-jodie-whittaker-explain-hollywood-15216438 Watch Jodie Whittaker explain to Hollywood stars on the Graham Norton Show why she is a 'Shat lass'], Yorkshire Live, 29 September 2018</ref>

==History==
The village was probably founded during the [[Viking]] invasion in the 9th century, as they moved inland from the [[North Sea]].<ref name="lawton">{{cite book | last = Lawton | first = Fred | year = 1895 | title = Historical notes of Skelmanthorpe & district | publisher = Paul Dyson}}</ref> There is no record of the village in the earlier [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] times.

The entry for Skelmanthorpe in the ''[[Domesday Book]]'' of 1086 states:<ref name="lawton" />

''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 the result of the [[Harrying of the North]] of 1069. [[William I of England|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.<ref name="lawton" /> This left Skelmanthorpe and much of [[Yorkshire]] a wasteland for about nine years.

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 [[de Laci|Ilbert de Laci]] by the new king. The [[de Laci]] family owned the village for the next 300 years, until through the marriage of [[de Laci|Alice de Laci]] in the 14th century, the village came into the possession of [[Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster|Thomas, Earl of Lancaster]]. The village remained in this family and after the marriage of [[Blanche of Lancaster]] to [[John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster|John of Gaunt]], the village became the property of their son [[Henry IV of England|Henry]] (King of England).<ref name="lawton" />

During the 1770s, Skelmanthorpe Feast was a riotous affair with [[Bull-baiting|bull]] and [[bear-baiting]] and organised [[dog fighting|dog fights]] on the village green.<ref name="Taylor" >{{cite book |last=Taylor |first=John |year=1882 |title=Reminiscences of Isaac Marsden |url=https://archive.org/details/10142474.emory.edu |publisher=T Woolmer}}</ref> 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&nbsp;... Among these scenes of revelry were mountebanks, showmen, fortune telling Gypsies, vagabonds and thieves from every quarter."<ref name="Taylor" />
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.

In November 1874 a number of skirmishes were fought between the native villagers and Irish [[navvy|navvies]]. The navvies had been brought in to construct the railway, and fighting broke out between them and the locals on a number of occasions and locals being refused work on the line. A small group of locals threw 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.<ref name="wilkinson">{{cite book | last = Wilkinson | first = John | year = 2002 | title = Exploring the Upper Dearne Valley | publisher = Bridge Publications}}</ref>

In 1934 a [[Movie theater|cinema]] was built, it 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 building closed. After five years it reopened as the Savoy Squash Club.<ref name="cinema">{{cite web | title=Squash club history | work=Savoy Squash Club – Information | url=http://www.yorkshirenet.co.uk/sportinfo/external/links/link.asp?ID=1925 | accessdate=26 April 2006}}</ref> In June 2010, part of the club was redeveloped as a Youth and Community Centre with a car park, outdoor 5-a-side court, sports hall with a stage, meeting room and cafe.{{cn|date=October 2023}}

===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.<ref name="wilkinson" /> As late as 1890, there were 200 [[loom|hand looms]] in cottages in Skelmanthorpe.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}

Number 6, Queen Street was preserved by Leslie Robinson a local historian as the Skelmanthorpe Textile Heritage Centre, complete with hand loom and all the associated equipment. Leslie became frail and in 2011, Richard Brooke, Tony Weatherby and David Collins created  the Friends of Skelmanthorpe Textile Heritage Centre to assist with the running of the centre. Following Robinson's death in 2015 The Friends  applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund to purchase the centre from his estate. The centre is now owned by a charitable trust. It opens on the second Sunday of the months between March and December to give free guided tours and loom demonstrations. It also opens for four days in September during the English Heritage Open Days.

=== Survey of English Dialects ===
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, in which most recordings were of villagers discussing local industries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sounds.bl.uk/accents-and-dialects/Survey-of-English-dialects/021M-C0908X0048XX-0100V1|title=British Library. Survey of English Dialects: Skelmanthorpe|publisher=}}</ref>

=== Governance ===
Skelmanthorpe became a civil parish in 1876,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10416097|title=Relationships and changes Skelmanthorpe CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=11 August 2023}}</ref> on 1 April 1974 the parish was abolished and merged into Denby Dale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/upper%20agbrigg.html|title=Upper Agbrigg Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=11 August 2023}}</ref> In 1951 the parish had a population of 3425.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10416097/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Skelmanthorpe CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=11 August 2023}}</ref>

==Buildings and services==

===Schools===
Two [[school]]s are in Skelmanthorpe:
* St Aidan's Church of England Academy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saintaidans.org.uk/|title=St Aidan's C of E Academy - Home|website=www.saintaidans.org.uk}}</ref>
* Skelmanthorpe Academy <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.skelmanthorpefandn.co.uk/ |title=Skelmanthorpe First and Nursery School |access-date=12 February 2012 |archive-date=29 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929010618/http://www.skelmanthorpefandn.co.uk/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Both of these are First schools, serving children up to Year 5 (rather than Year 6 like most primary schools).

After the first school, children move on to Middle School (usually Scissett Middle School) for 3 years before moving on to Shelley College.

===Churches===
Skelmanthorpe has five [[church (building)|churches]]:
*Church of St Aidan<ref>https://www.achurchnearyou.com/search/?lat=53.59&lon=-1.649 The Church of England - parish finder with map and church details</ref> – ([[Church of England]] – [[Anglicanism|Anglican]])
*Skelmanthorpe [[Methodism|Methodist]] Church<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pages.zoom.co.uk/jestaton/circuitwebsite/skelmanthorpe.htm |title=Zoom closure |publisher=Pages.zoom.co.uk |access-date=17 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509061700/http://pages.zoom.co.uk/jestaton/circuitwebsite/skelmanthorpe.htm |archive-date=9 May 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
*Trinity [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] Church
*Skelmanthorpe [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|Wesleyan]] Reform Church (now closed and demolished)
*Saville Road Hall<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skelmanthorpe.org.uk|title=Home - Saville Road Hall|website=www.skelmanthorpe.org.uk}}</ref> (Christian – [[non-denominational]])

===Fire station===
The [[fire station]] was constructed in 1956. It currently houses one pump and one area support unit along with 21 personnel and is designated as a retained fire station.<ref name=fire>{{cite web | title=Skelmanthorpe fire station | work=West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service – Skelmanthorpe | url=https://www.westyorksfire.gov.uk/stations/skelmanthorpe/| accessdate=16 February 2019 }}</ref>

==Sports teams and facilities==
The village has had its own [[cricket]] team since around 1876; the current [[cricket pitch]] dates from 1900.<ref name=cricket>{{cite web | title=Skelmanthorpe cricket club history | work=The Cricket History of Calerdale and Kirklees – Skelmanthorpe CC | url=http://www.ckcricketheritage.org.uk/southkirklees/skelmanthorpe/clubhome.htm | access-date=26 April 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829122402/http://www.ckcricketheritage.org.uk/southkirklees/skelmanthorpe/clubhome.htm | archive-date=29 August 2006 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

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<ref name=skate>{{cite web | title=Skate-park petition | work=Annual Report of the Denby Dale Parish Council 2004–2005 | url=http://www.denbydale.com/content/council_report_04_05 | access-date=23 June 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517162704/http://www.denbydale.com/content/council_report_04_05 | archive-date=17 May 2008 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[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.<ref name=skate2>{{cite web | title=Skate-park | work=December minutes of the Denby Dale Parish Council 2008 | url=http://www.denbydale.com/content/minutes_december_2008 | access-date=23 June 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709012651/http://www.denbydale.com/content/minutes_december_2008 | archive-date=9 July 2011 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Parkgate Sports and Community Trust have won the right for a new sports complex to be built at Parkgate.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lavigueur |first1=Nick |title=Royal approval for Skelmanthorpe sports complex project |url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/royal-approval-skelmanthorpe-sports-complex-7896481 |accessdate=16 February 2019 |work=Huddersfield Examiner |date=7 October 2014}}</ref>

== Transport ==

===Railway===

For more than 100 years (from 1879 until 1986), Skelmanthorpe had a [[Skelmanthorpe railway station|railway station]] on the [[Clayton West railway station|Clayton West branch line]] that ran along the northern edge of the village. The line was closed to passengers in 1983 and the track was removed in 1986.

The disused trackbed of the former branch line was later used for the [[Kirklees Light Railway]], a [[minimum-gauge railway]] designed as a [[tourist attraction]], which opened as far as Skelmanthorpe in 1992.<ref name=rail>{{cite web | title=Station Name:Skelmanthorpe | work=Disused Stations | url=http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/s/skelmanthorpe/index.shtml | accessdate=17 July 2017}}</ref>

The nearest railway stations now are [[Denby Dale railway station|Denby Dale]] (2.2 miles) and [[Shepley railway station|Shepley]] (3.1 miles); both stations are on the [[Penistone Line]] with trains in both directions to [[Huddersfield railway station|Huddersfield]], [[Barnsley Interchange|Barnsley]] and [[Sheffield railway station|Sheffield]]

===Buses===
Skelmanthorpe is served by bus services to [[Holmfirth]] and [[Wakefield]] on the X1 service and [[Huddersfield]] and [[Denby Dale]] on the [[D1 Denby Darts]] service. [[Team Pennine]] is the bus company that runs these services through the village.

===Roads===
The main road through the village is the [[B roads in Zone 6 of the Great Britain numbering scheme|B6116]], Which connects to the [[A629 road|A629]] and [[A636 road|A636]].

==Notable groups and residents==
===Male voice choir and brass band===
Skelmanthorpe Male Voice Choir began in 1934:
#To maintain and increase the love of and the interest in music in the village.
#To help charitable institutions.
#To increase the fame and renown of the village by winning competitions.
Since 2009 its director is Jane Hobson.

Formed in 1843, the Skelmanthorpe Brass Band is among the oldest ten [[Brass band (British style)|of such bands]] in Britain.<ref name=band>{{cite web | title=Band history | work=Innovate Skelmanthorpe Band | url=http://www.skelmanthorpeband.co.uk/ | accessdate=23 June 2009}}</ref> They rank in the [[Brass Band Sections in Britain|First Section]] of The National Brass Band Championships.<ref name=band2>{{cite web | title=Band standings  | work=Regional Contest Skelmanthorpe Info | url=http://www.regional-contest.org.uk/yorkshire/bandpage.php?id=6 | accessdate=23 June 2009}}</ref>

===Residents and ex-residents===
Actresses:
*[[Jodie Whittaker]].<ref name=doctor-who>{{cite web | title=Yorkshire's Doctor | work=Welcome to Yorkshire | url=https://www.yorkshire.com/inspiration/features/yorkshires-doctor | accessdate=14 September 2018}}</ref> She has appeared in films including ''[[Venus (2006 film)|Venus]]'' and ''[[St Trinian's (film)|St Trinian's]]'' and portrayed the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] in the television series ''[[Doctor Who]]'' she mentioned she was a "Shat lass" on [[Graham Norton]]'s chat show.<ref name=lass/>
Musicians:
*[[Biff Byford]], lead of heavy-metal band [[Saxon (band)|Saxon]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Glover |first1=Chloe |title=Saxon's Biff Byford: He's sold 15 million albums, influenced Metallica and toured the world - but did you know he was from Huddersfield? |url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/saxons-biff-byford-hes-sold-7688558 |accessdate=16 February 2019 |work=Huddersfield Examiner |date=30 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tuckey |first1=BIll |title=God gave rock'n'roll to you: Will heavy metal be a religion on the next census? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/god-gave-rocknroll-to-you-will-heavy-metal-be-a-religion-on-the-next-census-2037670.html |accessdate=16 February 2019 |work=The Independent |date=1 August 2010}}</ref>

==Setting for film or television==
During the mid-1970s, central parts were a set for Yorkshire Television [[sitcom]], ''[[Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt!]]'',<ref name=tv>{{cite web | title=Filming Location | work=Yorkshire on Film and TV, Northern England | url=http://www.yorkshirenet.co.uk/visinfo/general/yfilmtv.htm | accessdate=30 April 2006}}</ref> starring [[Bill Maynard]].

==Nearby places==
'''Towns and cities:''' [[Barnsley]], [[Huddersfield]], [[Wakefield]]

'''Villages:''' [[Denby Dale]], [[Clayton West]], [[Emley, West Yorkshire|Emley]], [[Lower Cumberworth]], [[Scissett]], [[Shelley, West Yorkshire|Shelley]], [[Shepley]]

==See also==
*[[Listed buildings in Denby Dale]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|shat}}
* [https://fosthc.wixsite.com/skeltexheritage Friends of Skelmanthorpe Textile Heritage Centre]

{{Commons category-inline|Skelmanthorpe}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Skelmanthorpe| ]]
[[Category:Villages in West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Denby Dale]]