Quakerism began in the seventeenth century during the tumultuous time of the English Civil War. George Fox, originally from Leicestershire, found support among the Seekers in the North of England and Skipton was an important centre during the early years of the movement in the 1650s.
At first Quakers, also known as Friends, met in one another’s houses and barns and in the open air. For several years they endured persecution by the authorities but after the Act of Toleration in 1689 conditions eased and it became possible to build meeting houses.
Skipton meeting house was built in 1693, as the stone over the door reminds us. The interior of the meeting room is much the same today as it was then, although the seating arrangement has changed. It is divided by a wooden screen which is kept permanently open now but which could once be closed to accommodate separate men’s and women’s business meetings. These separate meetings were set up by George Fox to encourage women to take a full part in running the Quaker movement and meetings for worship always included both men and women.
In the 19th century a cottage was built on the meeting house plot and in 1993 this was enlarged, incorporating a new room for use by the meeting and others.
The ground between the two buildings was used as a burial ground but has now been converted into a peaceful garden. The last burial here was in 1893 and some flat memorial stones have been incorporated into the paths. Over 200 Quakers were interred here over the years.
For more detail about Skipton meeting house and associated buildings see here https://heritage.quaker.org.uk/files/Skipton%20LM.pdf
For more about Quaker history see here https://www.quaker.org.uk/times/