** The cache is at N 53° AB.CDE W 002° FG.HIJ. **
We'll start our tour at the bottom of Skipton's award winning High Street. If you're here on a market day, and the chances are good as they're on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, then you'll probably notice that it is very popular, especially in the summer. If you're not already there, make your way to Q1 at N 53° 57.627 W 002° 01.017 (these are also the co-ordinates I've used for the listing). You should find a plaque here which tells you that one of the founders of a well-known chain of shops was born here.
N 53° 57.627 W 002° 01.017: The third number of the year he was born gives you A.
Walk up the right hand side of the High Street towards the next waypoint at N 53° 57.676 W 002° 00.995. You might notice the lime trees lining the High Street. These were planted in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee. As you arrive at Q2 outside a bank you should find a plaque which tells you that Skipton's Market Cross, stocks and pillory were located here until they were eventually dismantled. Skipton's Market Cross was apparently unique having had a wooden canopy on the top which covered the bell used to ring the start and end of market trading. If you're here on one of the days when the market isn't on, you might be able to see the actual spot where the market cross was on the cobbles. More on the stocks a little later.
N 53° 57.676 W 002° 00.995: The second (or third) number of the year the pillory was dismantled gives you B.
Cross over the High Street to Q3 at N 53° 57.689 W 002° 01.010. If you look up at the clock above the shop, you'll see that this spot is called Manby's Corner. It's called that after Fred Manby & Bro ironmongers which occupied this shop from the early 1800s through to 1986 when it finally closed for business. You'll need to make a note of the year above the door of the shop which is now a ladies fashion shop. You may also notice the ginnel called Manby's Yard next to a bakery on the High Street near here.
N 53° 57.689 W 002° 01.010: The second number of the year above the door minus the last number of the year gives you C.
Now we'll walk down the pedestrianised Sheep Street a short way to Q4 at N 53° 57.673 W 002° 01.023. On the right hand side of the steps as you face them you'll find a plaque which explains that we're now outside what was once Skipton's Town Hall and Toll Booth. Underneath this building were the town's prison cells. You'll also notice that the stone by the steps has a groove in it (there's also one on the other side of the steps). These are part of the stocks which used to be by the Market Cross.
N 53° 57.673 W 002° 01.023: The number of letters in the word used to describe the people who were "incarcerated and branded" in the cells. Then subtract 1 to get D.
Go back up Sheep Street and cross back over the High Street (nobody promised you a completely circular walk!) and head to Q5 at N 53° 57.743 W 002° 00.961 outside the Town Hall. As you walk up the High Street you'll pass a department store and a pub. These are some of the oldest buildings on the High Street. The pub was built in 1205 and, having been one since the 15th century, is Skipton's oldest pub. Apparently it still has a tunnel to the castle. Once at the Town Hall you'll find a plaque dedicated to Herbert Smith (make a note of the year he was born). Herbert worked for the Sopwith Aviation Company and designed the iconic Sopwith Camel. While here, why not visit the excellent and free Craven Museum in the Town Hall. As well as covering the history of Skipton and the Dales, it's home to one of only four Shakespeare First Folios that are on public display in the world.
N 53° 57.743 W 002° 00.961: The final number of the year Herbert Smith was born gives you E.
No visit to Skipton would be complete without seeing its castle. So let's head further up the High Street to Q6 at N 53° 57.803 W 002° 00.924. We're now on the forecourt of the imposing entrance Skipton Castle. Robert de Romille, a Norman baron, built a motte and bailey here in 1090. This was later replaced and substantially fortified when the Clifford family were granted the property in 1310 by Edward II. The last Royalist stronghold in the north of England, the garrison here surrendered with honour in 1645 after a three-year siege. After the surrender, Cromwell ordered the castle to be "slighted" and the roof and the top parts of the walls were removed. Lady Anne Clifford was later allowed to restore the castle and it stands to this day as one of England's most complete medieval castles.
N 53° 57.803 W 002° 00.924: Facing the entrance to the castle there are a number of letterboxes on the railings to the left. Subtract 4 to get F.
Next to the castle is Skipton's Holy Trinity church. Head to Q7 at N 53° 57.776 W 002° 00.965. If the churchyard is open you can cut through, otherwise follow the wall around to the main gate to the church. If open, the church is another place which is well worth a visit. Parts of the church date back to around the year 1300 and it contains the Clifford family tomb where many of them were laid to rest. Make a note of the hour (using a 12 hour clock) that the churchyard closes - you should see this if you peer in through the gates.
N 53° 57.776 W 002° 00.965: The hour the churchyard closes. Subtract 5 to get G.
Cross over to the west side of the High Street and head down a little way to Q8 at N 53° 57.760 W 002° 00.992. You should now be outside another of Skipton's old pubs. Here you'll find a plaque above some stone steps which tells you that this was the pub was formerly the Royal Mews, of Richard III, 1483-85, when he was Lord of the Honour of Skipton. Presumably, the front of the pub has been altered since then as a large date stone on the front of the building is later than that.
N 53° 57.760 W 002° 00.992: Which number is on the date stone (not the plaque) twice? Subtract 4 to give you H.
Heading to Q9 at N 53° 57.813 W 002° 01.034 you'll go back up the High Street and follow the road to the left on to Mill Bridge. Cross over the road at the crossing and go down in to the garden area by the canal. At the co-ordinates you should see an information board by the bridge over the Eller Beck. The mill behind you, now the home to a number of boutique shops, is called High Corn Mill and was originally the Castle's mill and the information board tells you how long a corn mill has been here. As a detour you could carry on north in to Skipton Wood which was once part of the medieval Forest of Skipton.
N 53° 57.813 W 002° 01.034: The third number of the year since a corn mill has been here gives you I.
Turn right along the canal heading towards Q10 at N 53° 57.664 W 002° 01.200. This is the Springs Branch (also known as Thanet Canal) which was built in the late 18th century at the request of Lord Thanet, the owner of Skipton Castle at that time, who had a quarry behind the castle. The canal was used to transport the stone from the quarry. There are information boards along this stretch of canal which give the history and facts and figures about it. Arriving at Q10 you're now in the "Canal Basin" where the short canal joins the main Leeds and Liverpool Canal which opened in Skipton in 1773. Here you will find a plaque dedicated to a destroyer which was adopted by Skipton following "warship week" in World War II. There's also a statue of Freddie Truman who played cricket for Yorkshire and England and lived near the town.
N 53° 57.664 W 002° 01.200: The number of points the star has on the plaque to the ship. Add 1 to get J.
You should now have the missing parts to the cache's nearby hiding place at N 53° AB.CDE W 002° FG.HIJ.
I hope you enjoyed the tour.
This cache meets the GAGB Urban Placement Guidelines.
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