A town in reflection - art exhibitions return to Skipton gallery cravenherald.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cravenherald.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
IT was almost exactly 50 years ago this week, on May 23, 1970, that the giant waterwheel at Skipton’s historic corn mill at Mill Bridge began turning once again. The then owner of the mill, urban councillor, ‘well-known dog show judge’ and seed merchant, George Leatt had spent the previous four years renovating the water mill, which had lain dormant for more than 30 years. Over the weekend of May 23, Mr Leatt opened the mill to the public. It was, he believed, the first working museum of its kind in the country. Today, High Corn Mill, is home to a number of businesses, and is owned by Andrew Mear, who bought it in 1991, following the death of Mr Leatt. The ‘historical innovation zone’ is still very much open to the public, and is free, fun and educational - very much a family attraction.
SKIPTON landlord Andrew Mear has raised more than £2,700 for Parkinson’s UK. Andrew, whose property portfolio includes Skipton’s High Corn Mill and High Street House, raised £2749.75 with a specially created calendar and late night Christmas shopping event. Featuring a number of well-known landmarks from the town, the 2020 calendar was designed to showcase Skipton. It was created with help from local photographer Stephen Garnett and sold in shops around the town. Andrew also hosted a socially distanced festive event at the High Corn Mill in December. His 1978 VW Skipton Campervan, bought during the first lockdown and restored to feature iconic Skipton scenes, played festive music supplied by Greatest Hits Radio while serving hot rolls and drinks from local catering company RachAel’s Kitchen.
A FORMER nurse has launched a brand-new holiday lettings business in the heart of Skipton. Skipton Holiday Homes is the brainchild of Victoria Peace and her husband Andrew, from Thornton-in-Craven, who believe the town is set to enjoy a tourist boom as staycations become the order of the day. Following a surge in visitor numbers to the area after the first Covid lockdown, the couple have launched their first let in the town’s High Street House, owned and managed by Andrew Mear of San Pedro Properties. Mrs Peace said: “As we emerge from a second lockdown, I think people will be even more determined to holiday in the UK. As a tourist hotspot, Skipton is well placed to benefit from increased visitor numbers – provided the town has the capacity to accommodate them – and it was with this in mind we decided to go into holiday lets.”