History of Skipton #222983

Before I_began the preparation of this book, it had always been to me matter for surprise that the history of Skipton had continued so long unwritten. The annals of our ancient town being so remarkable, and the material so abundant, it seemed unaccountable that a History of Skipton was not in existence even before Dr. Whitaker gave to the world his inimitable History of the Antiquities of Craven. As a compre hensive history of the district, that learned and laborious work will long hold an undisputed position. But necessarily it fails to do adequate justice to individual places, and least of all does it meet the want of Craven's capital. It was the knowledge, therefore, that a separate and full History of Skipton was felt to be a real need which led to the undertaking of the present work.