This section contains a short selection of documents relating to the castle and the Clifford's estates, ranging in date from 1310-1740.
There are a few documents relating to the early history of the castle surviving today. Documents linked to the estates were kept in the Muniments Tower, but, as Whitacker says," mice and damp " consumed many of them.
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Robert de Clifford was granted Skipton Castle and the Honour of Skipton by Edward II in 1310.
This is recorded in the Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1310, March 19. At a later date. the grant was extended in perpetuity.
" Grant for life to Robert de Clifford of the King's Castle of Skipton in Cravene, and land to the yearly value by extent of 200 marks, in the manor of Skipton in Cravene; the castle with one moiety of the land and its appurtenances to revert to the crown upon the death of the grantee, the other moiety to go to the heirs of his body."
Valuation of the Manor of Skipton in 1367, after the death of Isabel Berkeley, wife of Robert Clifford, 3rd Lord of Skipton. It refers to the water and fuller mills, markets and fairs from which the Cliffords gained considerable income. It also describes the condition of the castle and details of the land around it.
"They say that there is att Skipton a certaine castle,and it is worth nothing by the yeare within the walls, but it wants much reparation by the yeare of the houses and walls of the said castle. And there id there without the said Castle one gardine newly made, and it is worth nothing by the yeare above the price. And there is there in the dominion eleven score and fifteen acres of land, of which every acre is worth by the year four pence, the sum three score eighteen shillings four pence; of which two parts can every year be sowed with double seed and the third part even now lies in common. . . And there are in the dominion twenty acres of land, the herbage of which is worth by the yeare in common yeares on shilling,. . . And there is there under the said Castle one parke with wild beasts, of which the herbage is worth by the yeare above the food of the beasts twenty six shillings eight pence. And there is one water mill and it is worth by the yeare in common yeares a hundred shillings, besides the price. And there is one fuller's mill, and it is worth by the yeare six shillings eight pence beyond the price. And there is a certain Markett held every yeare on the Sabbath day every week, and two faires held by the yeare in the feasts os Saint Martin in winter and of Saint James the Apostle, of which Tolls with other comodities are worth by the yeares six pounds thirteen foure pence. And there is there of rendringe of a free tenant att will by the yeare three score shillings and two pence at the Termes of Sant Martin and Pentecoste.
The sum of the value of the manor of Skipton as it appears above the year -three and twenty pound thirteen shillings and six pence."
Henry Clifford writes to King Henry VII in 1485 to ask for the restitution of his estate and titles, confiscated as a result of the actions of his father John " the Butcher " during the War of the Roses. " In most humble and lowly wise beseecheth your highness your true subject and faithful liegeman Henry Clifford, eldest son to John, amongst other persons, for the most true service and faithful liegance which he did and owed to King Henry the Sixth, your uncle, in the Parliament at Westminster, the fourth day of November, in the first yeare of King Edward the Fourth, was attained and convicted of high treason; and by the same act was ordained that the said John, late Lord, and his heires from henceforth should be disabled to have, hold, inherit or enjoy any name of dignity, estate, or preeminence, within the realmsof England, Ireland, Calice, or the Marches thereof, and should forfaite all his castels, manners, landes, etc, he desireth to be resorted. To the which petition the king, in the same parliment, subscribeth,
"Soit faite come est desier."
The result of the petition was in Clifford's favour :
"That the act of Attaynder or forfeiture made in parliament. . .against John late Lo: Clifford and his heirs should be against Henry and his heirs utterly voyd, and the said Henry should be restored to all his Castles, Manors, Lands etc. . .".
Charter obtained by George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, from Queen Elizabeth in 1597, Permitting the holding of an extra fair every second Tuesday between Easter and Christmas in Skipton. The Cliffords gained revenue from these fairs.
"Elizabeth, D.G. -Since our well-beloved subjects welling in the town of Skipton in Craven have besought so humbly that we should design to grant them a fair in the town of Skipton on Tuesday every second week after Easter and Christmas, and since we are informed that.. the said fairs are in no ways hurtful to the other neighbouring fair, but are very useful to those living within forty miles near the aforesaid town, for the buying, selling and exhibition of horses, cows, bullocks and sheep etc. Know ye, therefore, that we have given leave to our well-beloved and trusty cousin, George, Earl of Cumberland, for them to have and to hold the said fair. Given on the 24th day of May, in the year 38 of our reign."
Skipton markets were controlled by regulations, which when disrespected led to offenders being fined. The Court Rolls at Skipton Castle from the early 1700s list these and show that the Lord of the Manor was the recipient of the fines.
"1707 John Charnock, of Haswick in Littondale, for exposing to sell two hanks of yarn wanting length, amerced six shillings and eight pence"
" April 23rd, 1740 -We the jurymen do amerce Jeremy Lund the sum of six shillings and eight pence, to be payed to the Lord of the Manor, for buying and selling at one and the same day corn in the marketts within this manor, contrary to the Law"
As Lords of the honour of Skipton, the Cliffords received rent from their tenants. Here is an extract from a Rent-roll of 1652.
£ s d William Goodgion,
hatter, for Skibden fields 25 00 00 Mrs Mawdlin
Tailor for Brigend closes 7 00 00 Christopher
Mitchell, for one house and kilne 3 03 04 Thomas Ivenson,
for his house and dye house. 1 10 00 Anne Barker, for
one shoppe 0 10 00
Extracts from Skipton Castle Household books give information about the entertainments that took place in the Great Hall. Travelling musicians and actors often came to the castle.
1610 To the music of York, when my Lord Digby was here at Skipton, £5.
To certain players, itinerants, £1
To a certain players company of roguish players, who represented "A New Way to Pay Old Debts." £1.
To Lord Willoby's men playing at this house twice, 30s.
The Household books list payment for rushes, which were used to cover the castle floors " 1609 - For 10 burden of rushes against the judge coming, 20d."
An inventory from 1643 gives a clear picture of how the Great Hall was furnished and heated:
"Imprimis - 7 large pieces of hangings, with the earl's arms at large in every one...3 long great long tables...6 long forms, 1 short one, 1 court cupboard, 1 fair brass lantern, 1iron cradle, with wheels for charcoal, 1alms tub, 1 great ancient clock with the bell, weights etc, 20 long pikes, 1 great church bible, 1book of Common Prayer, 2 laced cloth cusions for the steward."
An earlier inventory of 1572 gives the picture of how richly furnished the castle was, particularly in the number of tapestries and carpets it contained. The habit of placing carpets on tables is also mentioned:
" Item, One cowcher, or carpett, fot a longe tables. L111s. IVd."
An inventory from the end of the 16th century lists furnishing in the Drawings Chamber, The Clifford arms are often mentioned as forming part of the decoration of hangings and other embroidered cloths. See source 9.
" Three hangings of arris works ... One hanging of forest work, with Clifford arms. Two table cloths of green cloth fringed with green silk fringe. Two chairs of cloth of silver, three long cushions, ... one low stool, one little chair covered with blue velvet embroided with silver twist, one low chair covered with velvet, five buffets with crimson velvet, one buffet covered with cloth of gold. One long table , 2 tressels and 2 square cupboards."
Extracts from Lady Anne Clifford's diaries. Within months of the slighting of Skipton Castle Lady Anne set about restoring her inheritance, despite the risk of angering Cromwell.
Nothing would prevent her from repairing her properties :
" Let him ( Cromwell ) destroy my castle if he will, as often as he levels them I will rebuild them, so long as he leaves me a shilling in my pocket."
In her diary for 1657, she talks of the damage done to Skipton, and her repairs :
" Gabriell Vincent... did sett the Masons and Carpenters on work in further repayring of Skipton Castle... there were thirteen Roomes finished, seven whereof were upper Roomes. Also a little Closett built on the North Wall, the Coyneing House now repayred and slated and the Conduit Court cleaned of all the Rubbish that was throwne in att the Demolissine of the Castle. Which Roomes were all covered with Slate about Michaelmas also, with Gutters of Leade about the Roomes thatt are covered with Slate, for I was not permitted to cover it with Lead."
These sources are written from the SKIPTON CASTLE TEACHERS RESOURCE PACK.
since 18 April
1998