Explore Stamford Bridge
Why not visit the bustling little village that has just about everything including a Candlemaker! Learn about the Battle of Stamford Bridge, you can actually still see some of the original entrenchments at the East end of Skirpenbeck. Take a walk by the River Derwent and visit the village pubs and cafes in the surrounding area.
Explore York
The Historic City of York or Eboracum was founded by the Romans in 71 AD. It became the capital of the Roman province of Britannia Inferior, and later of the kingdoms of Deira, Northumbria and Jórvík and has lots of Roman and Viking history to explore.
The Rivers Ouse and Foss run through the City and it has amazing railway links for London and Edinburgh. Guido Fawkes was born and educated in the City as was the award winning actress Dame Judi Dench. There is always plenty to do in the City with the Minster, Walls, first class museums, galleries, shops, markets, pubs, restaurants and cafes. It offers great activities such as Ghost Walks as it is reputed to be one of the most haunted cities in the world.
Explore Malton
The Market town of Malton or ‘The Food Capital of Yorkshire’ is close by and is beautiful to visit with its quaint shops, cafes and restaurants. It has very close links with New Market for horse race training with many top class stables and studs. The restaurants, pubs and cafes are extremely dog friendly and is home to many local food producers including a Gin distillery. Charles Dickens was a regular visitor and got his inspiration for the story a Christmas Carol from Malton and its Architecture.
The place-name ‘Skirpenbeck’ is first attested in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as Scarpenbec. It derives from the Old Norse skerping and bekkr, meaning barren land by a beck or stream. It is near Stamford Bridge, over the River Derwent, near where King Harold of England defeated Harald Hardrada King of Norway in 1066.
Its first baron was Sir William de Chauncy, son of Chauncy de Chauncy. The parish church of St Mary’s is a Grade II* listed building, there are markings on the church building (near the bell tower) that appear to be Saxon. The village is a farming village and very quiet. It is lovely to walk through the village and take in the local architecture or countryside. Many of the farms in the village are fourth and fifth generation farmers. The village was also home to the following:
Alick Walker the palaeontologist was born in Skirpenbeck.
Thomas Cooke the famous machinist was the school Headmaster in Skirpenbeck where he also created precision scientific instruments such as microscopes and telescopes.
James Lloyd who was an English artist. He became famous for his paintings, mostly of animals and country landscapes. He was the first living self-taught artist to have a painting hung at the Tate in London, titled Cat and Mouse.
There are also lots of other villages close by with excellent pubs, community shops and lovely walks and rides.
