Skellow Hall
Skellow, on the outskirts of Doncaster, takes its name from the river that flows through it. The river Skell flows from its source in Skelbrooke through open country passing through Burghwallis. Shortly before it reaches Skellow Hall it fills the mill ponds of the now redundant Skellow Mill. As it leaves the village, it makes it way for the North Sea via the Ea Beck, Don, Ouse, and Humber.
Skellow Hall, originally built in 1642, would have been a brand new country manor house when Oliver Cromwell came to visit during the Civil War. The Great North Road, now the A1, had to be protected and Cromwell chose Skellow as a base for him to do so. He placed a cannon battery in the village and the mounds that once held the cannon remain to this day. When Cromwell arrived, Skellow would have comprised very little, one or two 15th century cottages would have been opposite the hall and perhaps the reason for him choosing this site would have been the remains of an earlier motte and bailey castle. The bailey is now largely lost under the main road, Cross Hill, although some of it does remain in the gardens of Cromwell’s Croft and the Cottage. There was reputedly, a 15th century inn here too, now known as ‘The Bridge House’ but this hasn’t yet been confirmed.
There is very little documentation regarding the hall and its residents but what information there is describes a modest but well appointed country house. The hall and outbuildings were constructed using local rubble, the roof was dressed with traditional pantiles and the eaves had huge slabs laid to them. The gable ends had coping slabs running down them too. A well known Doncaster magistrate, Captain R. C. Davies-Cooke once lived there.
It started its transition into a childrens home in 1949 when £4000 was spent on the transformation and is now a residential home for the elderly.
The difficulty rating for this cache has been increased due to the Muggle factor and it's close proximity to the main road. Please take care when retrieving and replacing the cache and use stealth at all times. If you journey by car please take care parking. There is no parking at the Buttercross or on Cross Hill.
