View source for Craven District

{{Short description|Geographic area in North Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name              = Craven
|type              = 
|image_skyline     = 
|imagesize         =
|image_caption     = 
|image_blank_emblem= 
|blank_emblem_type = 
|image_map         = Craven UK locator map.svg
|map_caption       = Shown within [[North Yorkshire]]
|mapsize           = frameless
|subdivision_type  = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
|subdivision_name  = United Kingdom
|subdivision_type1 = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
|subdivision_name1 = England
|subdivision_type2 = [[Regions of England|Region]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Yorkshire and the Humber]]
|subdivision_type3 = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]]
|subdivision_name3 = [[North Yorkshire]]
|seat_type         = Admin.&nbsp;HQ
|seat              = [[Skipton]]
|government_type   = 
|leader_title      = 
|leader_name       = 
|leader_title1     = 
|leader_name1      = 
|leader_title2     = [[List of MPs elected in the 2019 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]:
|leader_name2      = [[Julian Smith (politician)|Julian Smith]]
|leader_title3     =
|leader_name3      =
|established_title = Founded
|established_date  =
|founder           =
|area_total_km2    = {{formatnum:1177.39|R}}
|coordinates       = {{coord|53.95|N|2.02|W|display=inline}}
|population_as_of  = 2021
|population_total  = {{formatnum:57090|R}}
|population_density_km2 = auto
|timezone          = [[Greenwich Mean Time]]
|utc_offset        = +0
|timezone_DST      = [[British Summer Time]]
|utc_offset_DST    = +1
|postal_code_type  = Postcode
|postal_code       = <!-- [[XX postcode area|XX]] -->
|area_code         =
|blank_name        = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|ISO 3166-2]]
|blank_info        = <!-- GB-?? -->
|blank1_name       = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
|blank1_info       = 36UB (ONS)<br />E07000163 (GSS)
|blank2_name       = [[British national grid reference system|OS grid reference]]
|blank2_info       = <!-- {{gbmappingsmall|####}} -->
|blank3_name       = [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]] 3
|blank3_info       = <!-- UKG## -->
|blank4_name       = Ethnicity
|blank4_info       = 97.4% White<br />1.8% S.Asian (2011)<ref name="NOMIS">{{NOMIS2011|id=E07000163|title=Craven Local Authority|access-date=2 June 2021}}</ref>
|website           = [http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/ cravendc.gov.uk]
}}

'''Craven''' was a [[non-metropolitan district]] in the west of [[North Yorkshire]], England, centred on the market town of [[Skipton]]. The name ''Craven'' is much older than the modern district and encompassed [[Craven in the Domesday Book|a larger area]]. This history is also reflected in the way the term is still commonly used, such as by the [[Church of England]].

From [[Local Government Act 1972|1974]] until 2023, the name Craven was used for a separate [[Non-metropolitan district|local government district]], formed originally as the merger of [[Skipton]] urban district, [[Settle Rural District]] and most of [[Skipton Rural District]]; all were historically in the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]]. Since 1 April 2023, the area has formed part of the new [[North Yorkshire Council]] unitary authority.<ref>[https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/welcome-north-yorkshire-council Welcome to North Yorkshire Council], accessed 5 May 2023</ref> The population of the Local Authority area at the [[United Kingdom 2011 Census|2011 Census]] was 55,409;<ref name="NOMIS"/> it comprised the upper reaches of [[Airedale]], [[Wharfedale]], [[Ribblesdale]], and includes most of the [[Aire Gap]] and [[Craven Fault#Craven Basin|Craven Basin]].

{{TOC limit|limit=3}}

==History==
{{blockquote|text=Craven: “The exact extent of it we nowhere find”
|sign= [[Thomas Cox (topographer)|Thomas Cox]] |source=1730<ref name="magna2">{{cite web|first=Thomas |last=Cox |year=1731|title=Magna Britannia et Hibernia Antiqua Nova'|url=http://www.onread.com/book/Magna-Britannia-Et-Hibernia-Antiqua-Nova-Or-a-New-Survey-of-Great-Britain-176118 |access-date= 19 November 2010}}</ref>}}
''Craven'' has been the name of this district throughout recorded history.<ref name="studies">{{cite web|title=Institute for Name Studies|url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/county/Yorkshire+WR|publisher=[[English Place-Name Society]]|access-date=11 December 2019}} Note: Select the Thorton in Craven entry.</ref> Its extent in the 11th century can be deduced from [[#The Domesday Book|The Domesday Book]] but its boundaries now differ according to whether considering administration, taxation or religion.<ref name="maps">{{cite web|url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/index.html#Maps|title=GENUKI: Yorkshire Genealogy|access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref>

=== Toponymy ===

The derivation of the name Craven is uncertain, yet a Celtic origin related to the word for garlic (''craf'' in Welsh) has been suggested<ref>Ekwall, ''The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names'', Oxford (1960)</ref> as has the [[Proto-Celtic language|proto-Celtic]] ''*krab-'' suggesting scratched or scraped in some sense<ref>{{cite journal|first=P.&nbsp;N. |last=Wood|title=On the little British kingdom of Craven |journal=Northern History |volume=32|year=1996|pages=1–20|doi=10.1179/007817296790175155}}</ref> and even an alleged [[pre-Celtic]] word ''cravona'', supposed to mean a stony region.<ref name=mills>{{cite book|title=A Dictionary of British Place-Names|last=Mills|first=David|year=2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=USA|isbn=978-0199609086}}</ref>

In civic use the name Craven or Cravenshire had, by 1166, given way to [[Staincliffe Wapentake|Staincliffe]]. However, the church archdeaconry retained the name of Craven.<ref name=Skaife >{{cite book |title= Domesday Book for Yorkshire|last1= Skaife |first1=Robert|first2=A.&nbsp;S. |last2=Ellis|orig-year=1896|edition=new|year=2012|publisher=Ulan Press|asin= B00AUI62HW}}</ref>

===Prehistory===

The first datable evidence of human life in Craven is c. 9000 BC: a hunter's harpoon point carved out of an antler found in [[Settle, North Yorkshire#Tourism|Victoria Cave]]. Most traces of the [[Mesolithic]]  nomadic hunters are the [[flint]] barbs they set into shafts. Extensive finds of these [[microliths]] lie around [[Malham Tarn]] and [[Semerwater]]. Flint does not occur in the Dales, the nearest outcrop is in East Yorkshire. On higher ground microliths are found near springs at the [[tree line]] at {{convert|500|m|ft|abbr=on|-2}} indicating campsites close to the open hunting grounds. The valley woodlands were inhabited by deer, boar and [[aurochs]], the higher ground was open grassland that fed herds of reindeer, elk and horse. No permanent settlements have been found of that age, hunting here was seasonal, returning to the plains in winter.<ref name=landscape>{{Cite book | last=White | first=Robert | title=The Yorkshire Dales, A landscape Through Time | orig-year=1997 | edition=new | year=2005 | publisher=Great Northern Books | location=Ilkley, Yorkshire | isbn=1-905080-05-0}}</ref>

[[Neolithic]] farmers permanently settled in Craven, bringing [[Domestication|domesticated]] livestock and used those stone axes to clear woodlands, probably by [[slash-and-burn]], to increase areas for grazing<ref name=landscape/> and crops.

[[Stone tool#Neolithic industries|Neolithic stone axes]] made from prized Group VI (Great Langdale and Scafell Pike area) [[Greenstone (archaeology)|greenstone]] have their quarry of origin in [[Langdale axe industry|Langdale in central Cumbria]]. [[Archaeology|Archaeologists]], when mapping the distribution of finds of these axeheads, saw lines radiating from Langdale along the valleys of the [[Yorkshire Dales]], suggesting, to them, a [[trade|trading]] network whereon itinerant [[peddler|pedlars]] or travelling [[sales]]men practised [[merchandising]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Cummins|first=W. A.|year=1979|title=Stone axe studies: archaeological, petrological, experimental, and ethnographic 1|publisher=Council for British Archaeology|location=York|isbn=978-0-900312-63-2|pages=5 to12}}</ref> However, it has been proposed that such [[economic activity]] is a projection of the 21st century CE onto the people of the 38th century BCE; a culture whose [[world view]] we may never understand. New methods of [[spatial analysis]] show that the location of axeheads coincides only with areas of higher [[population density]], wherein the movement of greenstone items would have occurred very slowly, over many centuries, through local exchange between neighbours, or as [[spirituality|spiritual]] gifts. The map of finds of Langdale axeheads shows only that [[Neolithic Europe|Neolithic]] [[Human settlement|settlements]] extended along the valleys over a long period of time.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Schauer|first1=Peter|last2=Bevan|first2=Andrew|last3=Shennan|first3=Stephen|last4=Edinborough|first4=Kevan|last5=Kerig|first5=Tim |last6=Pearson|first6=Mike|date=14 Jan 2020|title=British Neolithic Axehead Distributions and Their Implications|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-019-09438-6|journal=Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory|volume=27|publisher=Springer Nature|pages=836–859|doi=10.1007/s10816-019-09438-6|access-date=28 Oct 2025|doi-access=free}}</ref>

===Roman occupation===

In the first century the Romans, having trouble controlling the [[Brigantes]] in the [[Yorkshire Dales]], built forts at strategic points. In Craven one fort, possibly named Olenacum,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roman-britain.org/places/olenacum.htm |url-status=usurped |title=Olenacum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617040126/http://www.roman-britain.org/places/olenacum.htm |archive-date=17 June 2012 |website=Roman Britain.org}}</ref> is at [[Elslack]] {{Coord|53.94078|-2.1160|format=dms}}.<ref>Ordnance Survey Map OL2 Yorkshire Dales Southern and Western areas {{ISBN|978-0-319-24068-7}}</ref> Through this fort passes a Roman road linking two other forts: [[Bremetennacum]] at [[Ribchester]] Lancashire and another at [[Ilkley Roman Fort|Ilkley]] Yorkshire. Archaeologists describe the road as running north-east up [[Ribblesdale]] about {{convert|1|km|mi|1|order=flip}} east of [[Clitheroe]], then bending eastwards near {{Coord|53.893|-2.3413|format=dms}}, then about {{convert|1|km|mi|1|order=flip}} north of [[Barnoldswick]] to pass into Airedale through the low {{convert|144|m|abbr=on|0}} pass near [[Thornton-in-Craven]].<ref>Ordnance Survey Map OL41 Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale {{ISBN|978-0-319-24071-7}}</ref><ref name="google">Google Earth</ref>

===Anglo-Saxon===

[[File:Map-Craven-Wapentakes 1000.png|thumb|left|Map of the Wapentakes c. 1000 AD]] To collect the [[Danegeld]] in 991–1016 the Anglo-Saxons divided their territory into tax districts. The [[Wapentake]]s of [[Staincliffe (wapentake)|Staincliffe]] and [[Ewcross (wapentake)|Ewcross]] covered the region we call Craven but also areas beyond it such as the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire; and [[Sedbergh]] in Cumbria to the North.<ref name="whalley">[http://users.skynet.be/lancaster/Transcriptions/Craven%20Whalley%20region.html The genealogical region of Craven] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023092932/http://users.skynet.be/lancaster/Transcriptions/Craven%20Whalley%20region.html |date=23 October 2012 }}, see map on p.2</ref> The Church was still using these areas in the 16th century.

===Norman Conquest===

The farmlands were progressively taken from the Anglo-Scandinavian farmers and given by the King to selected Normans. The previous and subsequent landowners were recorded in the ''Domesday Book'' along with the area of the ploughland.

====The Domesday Book====
{{main|Medieval Craven#Craven in the Domesday Book}}
[[File:Domesday Book folio 301v ms detail.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Domesday Book'', on folio 301v, lists the arable land ''In Craven'']] The Great ''[[Domesday Book]]''<ref name="domesday">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/domesday/|title=Domesday Book |last=The National Archives|access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="lab-archive">{{cite web|url=http://labs.nationalarchives.gov.uk/domesday/|title=Domesday on a Map|access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref> of 1086 did not use the later Wapentake district names in this part of England, as it usually did, but instead used the name Craven. The Book included lands further west than any later description: [[Melling-with-Wrayton|Melling]], [[Wennington, Lancashire|Wennington]] and [[Hornby-with-Farleton|Hornby]]<ref name="bookuk">[http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/lancashire1.html The Domesday Book Online, Lancashire] Retrieved November 2010</ref> on the [[River Lune]] in [[Lonsdale (hundred)|Lonsdale]] and even Holker near [[Grange over Sands]] in [[Cumbria]].

The historic northwestern boundary of Craven is much disputed. One faction declares that before the Norman Conquest the North of England from coast to coast was administered from [[History of York|York]] and named [[Scandinavian York|The Kingdom of York]]. By 1086 the Normans had designated only one [[county]] in the North of England and that was Yorkshire. One may assume thereby that the Norman Yorkshire of 1086 was much the same as the Kingdom of York of 1065; and the Domesday Book supports this. However the opposing faction proposes that the first Yorkshire was smaller, much as it was up till 1974, and that Amounderness, Cartmel, Furness, Kendale, Copeland and Lonsdale were attached to it in the Domesday Book merely for administrative convenience.<ref>{{cite journal| last =Palliser| first =D.&nbsp;M.| title =An introduction to the Yorkshire Domesday | journal =Yorkshire Domesday| pages =4–5| publisher =Alecto Historical Editions| location =London| date =1922}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| last =Thorn| first =F.&nbsp;R.| title =Hundreds and Wapentakes| journal =Yorkshire Domesday| pages =55–60| publisher =Alecto Historical Editions| location =London| date =1922}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last =Hey| first =D.| title =Yorkshire from AD 1000| page =[https://archive.org/details/yorkshirefromad10000heyd/page/4 4]| location =London| publisher =Longman| date =1986| isbn =0582492114| url =https://archive.org/details/yorkshirefromad10000heyd/page/4}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| last =Roffe| first =D.&nbsp;R.| title =The Yorkshire Summary: a Domesday satellite| journal =Northern History, A Review of the History of the North of England and the Borders| volume =27| pages =257| date =1991}}</ref>

Also the ''Domesday Book'' does not describe the width of Craven at all, for only [[arable land]] was noted. Ploughing is a minor part of Craven agriculture, and cultivators then had been reduced by the [[Harrying of the North]]. Most of Craven is uncultivable moorland and the valley bottoms are usually boggy, shady frost-hollows, with soils of glacial boulder clay very heavy to plough. So ploughing was limited to well-drained moderate slopes. The higher slopes are so full of rock debris that grazing cattle still is the primary living in Craven, with some sheep marginal.<ref name="oxenhope">[http://www.thesunflowertrust.org.uk/OxenhopeVillage/history/oxenhope.htm R Hindley, the History of Oxenhope, pub 1996] Retrieved November 2010.</ref> Because grazing land was not tallied in the ''Domesday Book'' the full areas of the estates of the manors can only be induced<ref name="lab-archive"/>

The areas of ploughland were counted in [[carucate]]s and [[oxgang]]s: one carrucate being eight oxgangs and one oxgang varying from fifteen to twenty acres. This vagueness comes from an oxgang signifying the land one ox could plough and that varied with the heaviness of the local soil. A carucate was the area that could be managed with team of eight oxen.

[[File:Curactes-in-Craven-Yorkshire-in-1086.png|500px|right|The Domesday Book of 1086 lists the lands in Craven ascribed to various Norman Lords]]

In 1086 [[Roger of Poitou]] was [[Tenant-in-chief]] of the western side of Craven: Ribblesdale and the Pendle valley.<ref>Roger of Poitou is associated with 632 places after the Conquest [http://domesdaymap.co.uk/name/468450/roger-of-poitou/ Open Domesday, The first free online copy of Domesday Book] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610042721/http://domesdaymap.co.uk/name/468450/roger-of-poitou/ |date=10 June 2012 }} Retrieved March 2012</ref> In 1092 he was granted also [[Lonsdale (hundred)|Lonsdale]] to defend [[Morecambe Bay]] against [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scottish]] raiding parties.

Soon after [[Henry I of England]]'s succession to the crown in 1100 arose a rebellion of men with a variety of grievances. Several [[Yorkshire]] lords were involved and suffered confiscation of their estates. In Craven these were [[Roger the Poitevin]], Erneis of Burun and Gilbert Tison. The King conducted a reorganization of Yorkshire by establishing men more skilled in government. Shortly after 1102 the castleries in Cravenshire were divided between the House of [[Robert de Romille|Romille]] and the [[House of Percy]]. The King was clearly intent that Cravenshire should retain a compact structure for he added-in estates from his own [[demesne]]. The result was two partially interwoven castleries incorporating nearly all the land in Craven.  The Percy estates were mainly concentrated in [[Ribblesdale]] with their castle at [[Gisburn]] while the Romilles dominated upper [[Wharfedale]] and upper [[Airedale]] with their fortress at [[Skipton Castle]].<ref name= Dalton>{{cite book |title= Conquest, Anarchy a & Lordship: Yorkshire 1066–1154|last= Dalton|first=Paul |year=1994 |publisher= Cambridge University Press|location=UK |isbn= 0521524644}}</ref>

====14th century====

Craven was still suffering from [[Border Reivers|Scottish raiders]]; for example in 1318 they severely damaged churches as far south as [[Kildwick]].<ref name="overend">{{cite web |url=http://www.overend.org.uk/kildwick.html |first=Harry |last=Overend |year=2003 |title=Kildwick Parish Church |access-date=17 March 2012 |archive-date=24 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124165232/http://www.overend.org.uk/kildwick.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1377, in the form of [[poll taxes of 1376–1381|Poll Tax]] records, the earliest surviving detailed statistics of Craven were collected. From them we can compare the income brackets of various occupations, and the relative worth of villages.<ref name="polltax">{{cite book|first=Harry |last=Speight  |year=1892|title=The Craven and north-west Yorkshire highlands|pages= 29–60|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AK8KAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP1 }}</ref>
The records list every hamlet and village using the [[Hundred (county subdivision)#Other terms|wapentake system]].<ref name="morris">’’Domesday Book: Yorkshire’’ Ian Morris, ed. Morris, Faull, Stinson – Phillimore, 1992</ref> The [[Wapentake]]s of [[Staincliffe (wapentake)|Staincliffe]] and [[Ewcross (wapentake)|Ewcross]] cover Craven but also areas beyond such as Sedbergh to the North. Young King Richard II had commanded that poll tax to pay off the debts he had inherited from the [[Hundred Years' War]]. Its first application in 1377 was a flat rate and the second of 1379 was a sliding scale from 1 groat (4p pence) to 4 marks. However, the third tax of 1381 of 4 groats (1 shilling) and up was applied corruptly and led to the [[Peasants' Revolt|Great Rising of 1381]].

====16th century====
The [[Deanery#Anglican usage|Deanery]] of Craven had similar boundaries to the [[Staincliffe Wapentake|Wapentake of Staincliffe]] and so included the following areas which are not in the modern secular district of Craven:
*A large part of what is now the [[City of Bradford]], namely the parishes [[Keighley]], [[Addingham]], and the [[Silsden]] and [[Steeton with Eastburn]] parts of the parish of [[Kildwick]]. However all of [[Bingley]] and part of [[Ilkley]], though never part of Staincliffe Wapentake, were within Craven and are also now within Bradford. (They were in the upper division of the Wapentake of Skyrack.)
*The northern section of the modern [[Lancashire]] District of [[Ribble Valley]], including [[Gisburn]] in Craven, and the [[Bowland Forest]] parishes of [[Bolton by Bowland]], [[Slaidburn]] and [[Great Mitton]], the latter including [[Waddington, Lancashire|Waddington]], [[West Bradford, Lancashire|West Bradford]], and [[Grindleton]]. ([[Sawley, Lancashire|Sawley]], while not technically in the old Deanery, is also in this geographical area.)
*The north-eastern section of the modern [[Lancashire]] district of [[Borough of Pendle|Pendle]], including [[Barnoldswick]], [[Bracewell, Lancashire|Bracewell]], and the part of the old [[parish]] of [[Thornton in Craven]] which includes [[Earby]] and [[Kelbrook]]

====17th century hearth tax====
These valuable records also define the area by wapentakes. This tax was introduced by the government of Charles II at a time of serious fiscal emergency, and collection continued until repealed by William and Mary in 1689. Under its terms each liable householder was to pay one shilling for each hearth within their property, due twice annually at the [[equinox]]es, Michaelmas (29 September) and Lady Day (25 March). The Yorkshire records of all three ridings are now completely transcribed, analyzed and available free online<ref name="hearth">[http://www.hearthtax.org.uk/communities/westriding/ Hearth Tax Online, Roehampton University, 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919205740/http://www.hearthtax.org.uk/communities/westriding/ |date=19 September 2012 }} Retrieved 24 June 2011</ref>

===History of agriculture===

====Sheep====
The [[hill]]s and slopes of Craven are greatly involved in the [[history of sheep]] particularly in the [[Wool#History|history of wool]].
After 5000 BC the Neolithic farming movement introduced domesticated sheep,<ref name=landscape/>{{rp|19}} but the [[Roman occupation of Britain]] introduced advanced [[sheep husbandry]] to Britain and made wool into a national industry. Craven was made accessible by major roads from [[Ribchester]] up [[Ribblesdale]] and from [[York]] through [[Ilkley]]. The extent of a [[Roman villa]] farm excavated at Gargrave implies it practiced grazing on nearby moorland.<ref name=landscape/>{{rp|39}}
By 1000&nbsp;AD England and Spain [[History of sheep#In Europe|were recognized as]] the pinnacles of European sheep wool production.
About 1200&nbsp;AD scientific treatises on agricultural estate management began to circulate amongst the Cistercian monasteries in the Yorkshire dales. These indicated the way to greatest profit was to produce wool for export.<ref name=Trevelyan>{{cite book |last=Trevelyan, O.M. |first=George Macaulay |title=History of England, Volume One: From the Earliest Times to the Reformation |edition=3 |year=1953 |orig-year=1926 |publisher=Doubleday Anchor Books |location=Garden City, N.Y. |isbn=0-385-09234-2 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyofengland00trev_0/page/207 207, 208, 313, 314] |chapter=2, 7 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/historyofengland00trev_0/page/207 }}</ref>
{{blockquote|text=“The famous monasteries under the steep, wooded banks of Yorkshire dales began the movement that in the course of four or five hundred years converted most of North England and Scotland from unused wilderness into sheep-run.”|sign= George MaCaulay Trevelyan|source=1926<ref name=Trevelyan/>}}
[[File:Sheep off Buckstone Lane - geograph.org.uk - 130285.jpg|thumb|The mediaeval monasteries converted unused wilderness into sheep farms]]
[[Fountains Abbey]] strongly affected Craven in upper Wharfedale, Airedale and [[Littondale]]. In 1200 the Abbey owned 15,000 sheep in various locations and traded directly with Italian merchants. On the limestone [[fells]] it held extensive sheep runs managed by [[monastic grange|granges]] located at valley heads to access both the moors and the [[rough pasture]] of valley sides. Many granges developed into [[Hamlet (place)|hamlets]]. The Fountains' sheep administrative centre was at Outgang Hill, [[Kilnsey]].<ref name=landscape/>{{rp|60}}
By 1320 [[Bolton Priory]]'s flock at [[Malham]] was about 2,750 and it built extensive sheep farm buildings there. Accounts show that a quarter of its cheese was sheep's cheese, and that most of the Priory's came from wool sales.<ref name=landscape/>{{rp|71}} It also developed [[fulling]], sorting and grading into industries.<ref name=landscape/>{{rp|95}}
Feudal Lords began to imitate monastic management methods for their own estates<ref name=Trevelyan/>{{rp|95}} and in 1350 when the [[Black Death]] killed off half the rent-paying farmers they had the bailiffs substitute sheep-pasture for tillage. The export of wool to the Flanders looms, and the concurrent growth of cloth manufacture in England, aided by [[Edward III of England|Edward III]]'s importation of Flemish weavers to teach his people the higher skill of the craft, made demand for all the wool that English flocks could supply.<ref name=Trevelyan/>{{rp|314}} As the profitability of wool further increased some landowners converted all arable land into sheep pasture by evicting whole villages. Over 370 deserted medieval villages have been unearthed in Yorkshire.<ref name=talbot>{{cite book |title=Yorkshire Landscapes|last1= Talbot|first1=Rob|first2=Robin |last2=Whiteman|year=1998 |publisher=Orion Publishing Group|location=London|isbn=0-297-82366-3}}</ref>{{rp|146}}
[[Henry VIII]] in 1539 [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|suppressed the Monasteries]] and sold Littondale and the Bolton Priory's estates in lower Wharefedale and Airedale to [[Henry Clifford, 1st Earl of Cumberland]] and [[the Cliffords|Lord of Skipton]].<ref name=landscape/>{{rp|61}}
By 1600 [[History of sheep#In Europe|the wool trade]] was the primary source of tax revenue for [[Queen Elizabeth I]]. Britain's success made it a major influence in the development and spread of sheep husbandry worldwide.

In more modern times the [[Industrial Revolution]] brought factory production of wool cloth to towns further down Airedale and many Craven families, made redundant by agricultural machinery, moved south to work in the [[worsted]] mills.
However, in 1966 the price of wool fell by 40% due to the increased popularity of [[synthetic fiber|synthetic fibres]]. Farmers complain it now costs more to shear a sheep than you can get for its wool and the result is reduced flocks. Although the tough wool of hill sheep is still used for carpet weaving, sheep breeding is now mostly for lambs to sell on for fattening for meat in low pastures.<ref name=kelsall/>{{rp|25}}

====Forestry====
The small surviving areas of ancient woodland in the area have high [[biodiversity]] value.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} However, the [[Pennines#Flora|Pennines]] are now notably lacking in trees despite archaeological evidence showing 90% was woodlands before human settlement. [[Palynology]] indicates the decline in trees coincided with the increase in grasses in [[Neolithic]] times caused by direct clearance for pasture and by [[overgraze|overgrazing]].
[[File:Pond Plantation - geograph.org.uk - 629069.jpg|thumb|Woodland, for it to endure, must be enclosed to protect its re-growth from grazing]]Since sheep are [[grazing|grazers]], not [[browsing (herbivory)|browsers]], they do [[Sheep#Diet|not affect mature trees]], but they devour all their seedlings. With a much narrower face than cattle, they crop plants very close to the ground and with [[Grazing#Grazing systems|continuous grazing]] can overgraze land rapidly. Ancient [[Common land|Common]] [[Grazing rights]] made it impossible to grow trees, even for fuel, because [[coppicing]] requires enclosure to protect regrowth from sheep, and the rights deny enclosure.<ref name=landscape/>{{rp|94}}

From 2002 to 2008, a Yorkshire Dales National Park programme encouraged sheep farmers to switch uplands livestock from sheep to cattle since they do not graze so intensively. Traditional breeds such as [[Blue Grey cattle|Blue Greys]] and [[Belted Galloway#Characteristics|Belted Galloways]] can survive the harsh winters and live off the rough grasses just as well a sheep.<ref name=limestonecountry>[http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/lookingafter/projectwork/limestonecountryproject Limestone Country Project] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807073831/http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/lookingafter/projectwork/limestonecountryproject |date=7 August 2013 }} Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. Retrieved 18 June 2013</ref>
Until December 2013, The National Park's ''Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme'' offered grants to help farming, forestry and horticultural businesses become more efficient, more profitable and resilient whilst reducing the impact of farming on the environment.<ref name=improvement>[http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/livinghere/whatwecandotohelpyou/farmingadvice/ffis Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818035349/http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/livinghere/whatwecandotohelpyou/farmingadvice/ffis |date=18 August 2013 }} Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. Retrieved 18 June 2013</ref>

Since 1968, some moorland has been [[Afforestation|reforested]] by the [[Forestry Commission]].<ref name=talbot/>{{rp|132}} Since 2005, the collection of [[Indigenous (ecology)|indigenous]] seeds and propagation produced saplings for planting schemes that began in 2010. Between 2007 and 2013 The Dales Woodland Restoration Programme<ref>[http://www.ydmt.org/programme-details-dales-woodland-restoration-14605 Dales Woodland Restoration] Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust. Retrieved 18 June 2013</ref> funded the creation of 450 hectares of new native woodland, almost all on privately owned land.<ref name=daleswoods>[http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/lookingafter/climatechange/cc-whatwearedoing/cc-managingland/cc-trees Trees and Woodlands] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817080813/http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/lookingafter/climatechange/cc-whatwearedoing/cc-managingland/cc-trees |date=17 August 2013 }} Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. Retrieved 18 June 2013</ref>

====Cattle====
[[File:Curved branches, curved horns - geograph.org.uk - 722591.jpg|thumb|In the 16–17th century Craven prized Longhorn cattle both for beef and their high butterfat milk that makes fine cheeses]]
In the 16th and 17th centuries [[English Longhorn|Longhorn cattle]] prevailed in Craven. Good quality bulls were bought [[Communitas|communally]] to improve the livestock on the [[common land]] beside each village. In the 18th century they [[Crossbreed|crossbred]] with [[Shorthorn]]s; fully grown crossbreeds weighed {{convert|420|lb|kg|abbr=on}} to {{convert|560|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.

Some [[Pastoral farming|graziers]] of the Craven highlands also visited [[Scotland]], for example [[Oban]], [[Lanark]] and [[Stirling]], to purchase stock to be brought down the [[drove road]]s to the cattle-rearing district. In the summer of 1745 the celebrated Mr Birtwhistle had 20,000 head [[Droving|driven]] from the northernmost parts of Scotland to Great Close near [[Malham]],<ref name=tradition/>{{rp|53}} a distance of ca {{convert|300|mi|km|0}}.

In 1818 the [[Craven Heifer]], bred for meat on the [[Bolton Abbey]] estate remains to this day the largest and fattest cow of her age ever shown in England, weighing {{convert|2496|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.<ref>The Librarian, [[Craven Museum & Gallery]], Skipton N Yorkshire</ref>

In modern times dairy farming has predominated and after the 1970s [[Holstein cattle|Holstein]] [[Holstein cattle#United Kingdom|Friesians]] became the most popular breed<ref name=donkin>{{cite book |last=Donkin|first=Kevin|title= Circular Walks along the Pennine Way|edition=1|year=2006|publisher=Frances Lincoln Ltd |location=London |isbn=978-0-7112-2665-4}}</ref> weighing ca 1600 pounds (725&nbsp;kg).

====Crops====
Pollen analysis shows that the peak of arable agriculture in Craven was 320–410&nbsp;AD, but outbreaks of pestilence in the 6th century and in the 7–8th century resulted in a shift away from ploughing to grazing. However, the ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' records the Danish Viking settlers "were engaged in ploughing and making a living for themselves."<ref name=landscape/>{{rp|47}}
Cultivation lynchet terraces and ridge-and-furrow fields of the Middle Ages are visible alongside many villages particularly in Wharfedale and Malhamdale<ref name=landscape/>{{rp|69}} and tithe records show they grew crops of [[oat]]s, barley and wheat<ref name=tradition>{{cite book| last1=Hartley| first1=Marie| author-link=Marie Hartley (author)| first2=Joan| last2=Ingilby| title=Life and Tradition in the Yorkshire Dales| publisher=J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd| place=London| year=1968| isbn=0-498-07668-7| url=https://archive.org/details/vanishingfolkway00hart}} Life and Tradition in the Yorkshire Dales</ref>{{rp|21}} and in rotation, beans and peas.<ref name=landscape/>{{rp|71}}
However, the [[History of sheep#In Europe|wool boom of the 16th century]] caused most arable land to be turned into pasture. In the 18th century miller's records show they had to import wheat to grind and sell as flour<ref name=tradition/>{{rp|21}} but the farmers still grew oats for it formed the principle article of their subsistence, some made into bread and puddings<ref name=Whitaker>{{cite book | last=Whitaker| first=Thomas Dunham |title=The History and Antiquities of the Deanery of Craven, in the county of York| publisher= Nichols, Payne etc| year=1805|isbn=978-1-241-34269-2}}[http://www.skiptoncastle.co.uk/history-of-craven.asp?page=17 Whitaker's History of Craven] pdf. Skipton Castle Co UK. Retrieved 12 June 2013</ref> but mostly cooked as [[oatcake]]s.
{{blockquote|text=“We were browt up on haverbreead and cheese”|sign= Mr J Postlethwaite|source=1940<ref name=tradition/>{{rp|27}}}}

====Administration====
In the 18th century the national [[Board of Agriculture (1793–1822)|Board of Agriculture]] commissioned a [[General View of Agriculture county surveys|survey of agriculture]] in the region, with a view of improving it. It was published in 1793 as ''General view of the Agriculture of the West Riding of Yorkshire'',<ref name=survey>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lv5KAAAAYAAJ |title=General view of the Agriculture of the West Riding of Yorkshire | last1= Rennie |last2= Broun |last3=Shirreff | year=1793 |publisher= W Bulmer & Co.|location= London}}</ref> a 140-page book detailing every factor. The wide variety of soil composition resulted in [[Tithe#Tithing in the Middle Ages|tithes]] ranging from 6 shillings up to 3 pounds per acre and farms leasing from 50 to 500 pounds per year. It details by parish quantities of cattle and crop produced, their [[crop rotation|rotation]] and market value. The report recommended more wheat and turnips; more sheep and of better breed; criticized poor drainage and design of farm buildings and taught principles of farm management.

Average wages then paid to employees were 12 pounds per annum with [[victuals]] and drink; and to temporary labourers 2 shillings and sixpence per day with beer. Hours of work in winter were "dawn till dark" and in harvest time "six till six, with one hour for dinner and another for drinking". The author shows concern for their virtue and welfare.

==Government==

===Parliamentary constituency===
Since 1983 Craven has been in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliamentary]] [[Skipton (UK Parliament constituency)|constituency]] of [[Skipton and Ripon (UK Parliament constituency)|Skipton & Ripon]]. This constituency is considered one of the [[safe seat|safest seats]] in England with a long history of [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative representation]]. The [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) was: [[John Watson (Skipton MP)|John Watson]] 1983 to 1987; [[David Curry]] 1987 to 2010; [[Julian Smith (politician)|Julian Smith]] since 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/GE2017|publisher=North Yorkshire County Council|access-date=19 July 2017|title=Member of Parliament in 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920044312/http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/GE2017|archive-date=20 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Previous local authorities ===
[[File:CravenDistrictCouncilLogo.gif|thumb|right|Logo of former District Council]]
In July 2021 the [[Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government]] announced that in April 2023, the non-metropolitan county of North Yorkshire would be reorganised into a [[unitary authority]]. Craven District Council, the other district councils and North Yorkshire County Council were abolished on 1 April 2023 and their functions were transferred to a new [[North Yorkshire Council|single authority]] for the non-metropolitan county of North Yorkshire.<ref>{{cite web |title=Next steps for new unitary councils in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-steps-for-new-unitary-councils-in-cumbria-north-yorkshire-and-somerset |access-date=20 December 2021 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The new council |url=https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/new-council-0 |accessdate=20 December 2021 |publisher=[[North Yorkshire County Council]]}}</ref>

===Former County Council===

[[North Yorkshire County Council]] administered an area of {{convert|8654|km2|mi2}}, the largest [[List of ceremonial counties of England by area|county]] in England. It was a [[Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England|non-metropolitan]] county that operated a [[cabinet-style council]] in [[Northallerton]]. The 72 councillors therein elected a council leader who appointed up to 9 councillors to form an executive cabinet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=1990&p=0|publisher=North Yorkshire County Council|access-date=10 May 2010|title=North Yorkshire County Council Constitution|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228191433/http://northyorks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=1990&p=0|archive-date=28 December 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>
NYCC Elections – 2017 results<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/article/5917/NYCC-Elections---2017-results|publisher=North Yorkshire County Council|access-date=19 July 2017|title=North Yorkshire County Council 2017 result|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607092633/http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/article/5917/NYCC-Elections---2017-results|archive-date=7 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====District divisions====
[[File:Craven District-Yorkshire-map-Govt outline since 1974.jpg|thumb|right|The Craven Local Government District 1974–2023]]
Craven, for representation on North Yorkshire County Council, was divided into seven [[Electoral district|divisions]] and each returned one [[Councillor#United Kingdom|councillor]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9853 |title=Craven election results |date=June 2009 |publisher=North Yorkshire County Council |access-date=18 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927224623/http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9853 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
# Airedale<ref>[http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9860 Airedale Electoral Division] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928185511/http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9860 |date=28 September 2011 }} map and election results</ref> 	
# Mid-Craven<ref>[http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9861 Mid-Craven Electoral Division] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928185358/http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9861 |date=28 September 2011 }} map and election results</ref> 	
# North Craven<ref>[http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9862 North Craven Electoral Division] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928185553/http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9862 |date=28 September 2011 }} map and election results</ref> 	
# Ribblesdale<ref>[http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9863 Ribblesdale Electoral Division] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928185736/http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9863 |date=28 September 2011 }} map and election results</ref> 	
# Skipton East<ref>[http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9864 Skipton East Electoral Division] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410221851/http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9864 |date=10 April 2010 }} map and election results</ref> 	
# Skipton West<ref>[http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9865 Skipton West Electoral Division] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928185625/http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9865 |date=28 September 2011 }} map and election results</ref> 	
# South Craven<ref>[http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9866 South Craven Electoral Division] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928185920/http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9866 |date=28 September 2011 }} map and election results</ref>

===Former District Council===
{{see also|Craven District Council elections}}
Elections to Craven District Council were held in three out of every four years, with one third of the 30 seats on the council being elected at each election. Since the first election to the council in 1973 the council had alternated between periods when no party had overall control and times when the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] had a majority, apart from a 2-year period between 1996 and the [[1998 Craven District Council election|1998 election]] when the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] had a majority. After no party had a majority since 2001, the Conservatives regained overall control at the [[2010 Craven District Council election|2010 election]] and held it until abolition in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/article/401/Elections---Results-of-Past-Elections|title=Craven District Council Results of Past Elections|access-date=19 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020044107/http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/article/401/Elections---Results-of-Past-Elections|archive-date=20 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====District council wards====
There were 76 [[List of civil parishes in North Yorkshire#Craven|Civil Parishes in Craven]].

They were grouped into 19 [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]]. The Wards were represented by 30 councillors; eight wards by one councillor and eleven by two councillors..

The wards were:<ref name="listwards">{{cite web |url=http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/article/2061/Wards-and-Parishes |title=List of Wards and parishes of Craven |access-date=19 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020054129/http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/article/2061/Wards-and-Parishes |archive-date=20 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
# Aire Valley with Lothersdale Ward : Parishes of Bradleys Both, Cononley, Farnhill, Kildwick, Lothersdale  (two councillors)
# Barden Fell Ward : Parishes of Appletreewick, Barden, Beamsley, Bolton Abbey, Bordley, Burnsall, Cracoe, Draughton, Hazlewood-with-Storiths, Halton East, Hetton, Rylstone, Thorpe.
# Bentham Ward : Parishes of Bentham and Burton-in-Lonsdale (two councillors)
# Cowling Ward : Parish of Cowling.
# Embsay with Eastby Ward : Parish of Embsay with Eastby.
# Gargrave and Malhamdale Ward : Parishes of Airton, Bank Newton, Calton, Coniston Cold, Eshton, Flasby-with-Winterburn, Gargrave, Hanlith, Kirkby Malham, Malham, Malham Moor, Otterburn, Scosthrop, Stirton-with-Thorlby (two councillors)
# Glusburn Ward : Parish of Glusburn and Cross Hills (two councillors)
# Grassington Ward : Parishes of Grassington, Hebden, Hartlington, Linton.
# Hellifield and Long Preston Ward : Parishes of Hellifield, Long Preston, Nappa, Swinden.
# Ingleton and Clapham Ward : Parishes of Austwick, Clapham-cum-Newby, Ingleton, Lawkland, Thornton-in-Lonsdale. (two councillors)
# Penyghent Ward : Parishes of Giggleswick, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Stainforth.
# Settle and Ribble Banks Ward : Parishes of Halton West, Langcliffe, Rathmell, Settle, Wigglesworth (two councillors)
# Skipton East Ward : Parish of Skipton (two councillors)
# Skipton North Ward : Parish of Skipton (two councillors)
# Skipton South Ward : Parish of Skipton  (two councillors)
# Skipton West Ward : Parish of Skipton (two councillors)
# Sutton-in-Craven Ward : Parish of Sutton-in-Craven (two councillors)
# Upper Wharfedale Ward : Parishes of Arncliffe, Buckden, Conistone-with-Kilnsey, Halton Gill, Hawkswick, Kettlewell-with-Starbotton, Linton, Threshfield.
# West Craven Ward : Parishes of Broughton, Carleton, Elslack, Martons Both, Thornton-in-Craven.<ref name="listwards"/>

===Allied organisations===
Craven District Council allied with other organizations:<ref name=plan/>
* ''North Yorkshire County'' was a two tier local authority area, with NYCC being the top and Craven District Council the bottom tier. Whilst CDC was responsible for providing some services NYCC was responsible for others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3112/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805071744/http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3112/|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 August 2012|title=Page cannot be found|first=Bruce|last= Wood|date=28 June 2013|access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref>
* ''The Leeds City Region'' is the economic area comprising Craven, Harrogate, York, Bradford, Leeds, Selby, Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield and Barnsley. LCR members work together in fields such as transport, housing and spatial planning.<ref>[http://www.leeds.gov.uk/leedscityregion/  The Leeds City Region]</ref>
* ''North Yorkshire Strategic Partnership'' is a partnership of public sector, private sector and voluntary organizations in Craven working together to meet the needs of the communities.<ref name="NYSP">{{cite web|url=http://www.nysp.org.uk/|title=North Yorkshire Strategic Partnership (NYSP) – nysp.org.uk|access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref>
* ''North Yorkshire Children's Trust'', part of the NYSP, represents all those agencies that working with children and young people across the county. NYCT promotes the five national Every Child Matters outcomes for children.<ref name="NYSP" />
* ''York and North Yorkshire Cultural Partnership'' brings together a number of Yorkshire agencies that bring the benefits of culture to quality of life and economic regeneration. This partnership is working together to deliver the York and North Yorkshire Cultural Strategy 2009–2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ynyculture.org/|title=York and North Yorkshire Cultural Partnership|access-date=21 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107134614/http://ynyculture.org/|archive-date=7 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* ''Welcome to Yorkshire'' works to improves what the region has to offer tourists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ytb.org.uk/|title=Welcome to Yorkshire|access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref>

==Other Cravens==

=== West Craven ===

{{main|West Craven}}
In the 1974 government reorganization of the [[Non-metropolitan district|shire districts]], some towns were lost to Lancashire, but because of cultural history some of them, all now part of the [[borough of Pendle]], came to be known as [[West Craven]]: [[Barnoldswick]], [[Earby]], [[Sough, Lancashire|Sough]], [[Kelbrook]], [[Salterforth]] and [[Bracewell and Brogden]]. (Other more westerly parts of Craven that became parts of [[Ribble Valley]] in modern Lancashire, such as [[Gisburn]], are not normally referred to as part of West Craven.)

=== Archdeaconery of Craven ===

[[File:Map-Craven-Deaneries.jpg|thumb|right|The Archdeaconery of Craven is much larger than civic District of Craven<ref name=CofE>http://www.achurchnearyou.com/ A Church Near You</ref>]]The Anglican Church Archdeanery number 542 is named Craven and has four Deaneries: Ewecross, Bowland, Skipton and South Craven.<ref name=CofE/> Ecclesiastic Craven is much larger than the civic District of Craven; in particular northern Ewecross is in [[Cumbria]] county, lower South Craven is in [[West Yorkshire]], and south-west Bowland is in [[Lancashire]] county. The Church of England has considered changing their boundary of Bowland to match that of civic Lancashire<ref name=herald>{{cite news|url=http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/8846341.Boundary_shake_up_may_spark_a_holy_row/ |title=Church of England report could affect churches across Craven|work= Craven Herald & Pioneer| access-date =12 February 2011}}</ref>

=== Deanery of South Craven ===

The [[Deanery]] of South Craven is much bigger than the [[#District divisions|council election division of South Craven]], as the Deanery of South Craven comprises the following parishes: Cononley, Cowling, Cross Roads cum Lees, Cullingworth, Denholme, East Morton, Harden, Haworth, Ingrow, Keighley (St Andrews), Kildwick, Newsholme, Oakworth, Oxenhope, Riddlesden, Silsden, Steeton with Eastburn, Sutton-in-Craven, Thwaites Brow, Utley and Wilsden. The Civic boundaries also contrast in that only Bradley, Cowling, Kildwick and Sutton-in-Craven are in North Yorkshire; the other 16 are in West Yorkshire.

====South Craven and Wharfedale====

South Craven is in the [[Archdeacon of Bradford|Archdeaconery of Bradford]], and on 1 January 2017 [[The Church of England]] put into effect a redrawing of the [[concept map|map]] of its subdivisions of the Bradford Episcopal Area by [[Organizing (management)|geographic re-grouping]]<ref>[http://www.westyorkshiredales.anglican.org/content/maps-and-information-about-deaneries-and-parishes] Anglican maps and information about deaneries and parishes. Retrieved 6 May 2017</ref> This [[geographic]] [[departmentalization]] into four new deaneries is an effective [[mind map]], whereby South Craven is now grouped by [[regional geography]] with similar parishes so they can work together more effectively.<ref name="anglican">[http://www.westyorkshiredales.anglican.org/news/bradford-episcopal-map-redrawn-new-area-deans-announced] West Yorkshire Dales Anglican News Retrieved 6 May 2017</ref>

{{blockquote|text="We needed to create a new deanery structure, as two of our existing deaneries had been divided across different episcopal areas and were significantly smaller than the others"|sign=Rt. Revd Toby Howarth, [[Bishop of Bradford]]|source=2017<ref>{{cite web|first=Toby|last=Howarth |year=2017|title=Bradford Area Map redrawn as new Area Deans announced|url=http://www.westyorkshiredales.anglican.org/news/bradford-episcopal-map-redrawn-new-area-deans-announced|access-date= 6 May 2017}}</ref>}}

Whereas South Craven was previously grouped with "Ilkley and Keighley" it is now adjoined to [[Wharfedale]] as South Craven and Wharfedale. The Deanery of South Craven and Wharfedale now includes: [[Addingham]]; St John [[Ben Rhydding]]; [[Burley Woodhead]]; St John the Evangelist, [[Cononley]] with [[Bradley, North Yorkshire|Bradley]]; [[Cowling]]; [[Ilkley]] All Saints; St Margaret Ilkley; [[Kildwick]]; Christ Church [[Lothersdale]]; St John the Divine, [[Menston]]; St James [[Silsden]]; and St Thomas [[Sutton-in-Craven]].<ref name="anglican" />

==Towns==
The largest town in Craven is [[Skipton]]. Other major population centres in the region include [[High Bentham]], [[Settle, North Yorkshire|Settle]], [[Grassington]]. The expanded villages of [[Sutton-in-Craven]], [[Cross Hills]] and [[Glusburn]] are now considered one urban conglomerate.

==Geography==
Craven comprises the upper reaches of [[Airedale]], [[Wharfedale]], [[Ribblesdale]] and the river [[Wenning]] of [[Lonsdale (hundred)|Lonsdale]].

===Topography===
[[File:Craven and Aire-Gap altitudes graph.png|thumb|right|430px|Cross-section of the topography of England, coast to coast. In red is shown the altitudes of the valley called the [[Craven Fault#Craven Basin|Craven Basin]] or the [[Aire Gap]]. In particular the A683 from [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] on the tidal waters of the [[Irish Sea]], via [[Ingleton, North Yorkshire|Ingleton]] on the [[A65 road|A65]]  to [[Skipton]] and then on any major road beyond to [[Goole]] where the [[River Ouse, Yorkshire|River Ouse]] is tidal from the [[North Sea]]. This Craven Basin or Aire Gap contrasts with the heights of the mountains of the [[Yorkshire Dales]] National Park to the north marked in blue, and also contrasts with the heights of the [[Forest of Bowland]] and the [[South Pennines|South Pennine Moors]] to the south marked in yellow.<ref name="earth">[http://www.earth.google.com Google Earth] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908230721/http://earth.google.com/ |date=8 September 2010 }} Altitudes given by Google Earth maps</ref>]]Craven is a group of valleys. Through Craven the [[River Aire]] and River [[Wharfedale|Wharfe]] flow east to the [[North Sea]]; and the [[River Ribble]] and [[River Wenning]] flow west to the [[Irish Sea]].

To Craven's north stand [[Carboniferous limestone|limestone]] mountains of up to {{convert|736|m|abbr=on|0}} [[above mean sea level]]<ref name="earth"/> and to its south lie bleak [[Millstone Grit|sandstone]] moors, that above {{convert|275|m|abbr=on|0}} grow little but bracken.<ref name="DB">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120311000727/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-400000-441000/page/4 page 4] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20120318021303/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-400000-441000/page/5 page 5], Marginal Upland Grazing Sutton Moor, Domesday Reloaded, BBC 1986</ref>

[[Pennines#Transport|Transport]] can find the [[Pennines]] a formidable barrier for roads can be blocked by snow for several days. However, Craven makes a sheltered passageway with [[#Transport|low passes]].

===Natural vegetation===
At the end of the last [[ice age]], ca 11,500 years ago, plants returned to the bare earth and archaeological [[palynology]] can identify their species. The first trees to colonize were willow, birch and juniper, followed later by alder and pine. By 6500 BC temperatures were warmer and woodlands covered 90% of the dales with mostly pine, elm, lime and oak. On the limestone soils the oak was slower to colonize and pine and birch predominated. Around 3000 BC a noticeable decline in tree pollen indicates that Neolithic farmers were clearing woodland to increase grazing for domestic livestock, and studies at [[Linton, North Yorkshire|Linton Mires]] and [[Eshton|Eshton Tarn]] find an increase in grassland species in Craven.<ref name=landscape/>

On poorly drained impermeable areas of millstone grit, shale or clays the topsoil gets waterlogged in Winter and Spring. Here tree suppression combined with the heavier rainfall results in [[blanket bog]] up to {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} thick. The erosion of peat ca 2010 still exposes stumps of ancient trees.<ref name=landscape/>
{{blockquote|text=“In digging it away they frequently find vast fir trees, perfectly sound, and some oaks...”|sign= Arthur Young|source=1771<ref name="young">{{cite book|first=Arthur |last=Young |year=1771 |title=A Six Month Tour of the North of England}}</ref>}}

[[Pennines#Flora|Vegetation in the Pennines]] is adapted to subarctic climates, but altitude and acidity are also factors. For example, on [[Sutton-in-Craven|Sutton]] Moor the millstone grit's topsoil below {{convert|275|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} has a [[soil ph]] that is almost neutral, ph 6 to 7, and so grows good grazing. However, above {{convert|275|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} it is acidic, ph 2 to 4, and so can grow only [[bracken]], [[Ericaceae|heather]], [[sphagnum]], and coarse grasses<ref name="DB"/> such as [[cottongrass]], [[Molinia caerulea|purple moor grass]] and [[Juncus|heath rush]].<ref name=kelsall>{{cite book |title=The Yorkshire Dales: South and West|last1=Kelsall|first1= Dennis |first2=Jan |last2=Kelsall |year=2008 |publisher=Cicerone |location= Milnthorpe |isbn=978-1-85284-485-1}}{{rp|26}}</ref> However dressing it with lime produces better quality grass for sheep grazing. Such is named [[wikt:marginal#Adjective|marginal]] upland grazing.<ref name="DB"/> This suggests that early [[pastoral farming]] on millstone grit soil flourished in areas where lime was most easily available.

==Demography==
* The population is increasing and growing older. By 2020 Craven's population is projected at 63,400, an increase of 14.2% (2006 based sub-national population projections ONS)<ref name=statistics>{{cite web|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/search/index.html?newquery=Craven |title=Craven|publisher= Office for National Statistics| access-date= 22 June 2013}}</ref>
* 95.6% of the Districts population is white British, with ethnic minority (BME) groups making up 4.4% (Mid Year 2006 Population Estimates, Experimental Statistics ONS).
* Young people aged 19 and under make up 22% of the population, those aged 20 to 64 make up 56%, and those aged 65 and over 22% (Mid Year 2008 Population Estimates, ONS)
* 17.23% of the population consider themselves to have a long-term limiting illness or disability (2001 Census Statistics ONS).<ref name=plan/>

==Economy==
{|class="wikitable sortable" align="right"
|+ Businesses by industrial sector in 2008<ref name=ABI>Annual Business Inquiry 2008</ref>
! Sector	!! Quantity	!! %
|-
| Manufacturing	|| 213	|| 7.2
|-
| Construction	|| 369	|| 12.5
|-
| Distribution, Hotels and Restaurants	|| 972	|| 32.8
|-
| Transport and Communications	|| 157	|| 5.3
|-
| Banking, Finance and Insurance	|| 760	|| 25.6
|-
| Public Admin, Education and Health 	|| 271	|| 9.1
|-
| Other	|| 221	|| 7.5
|}
Economic forecasts for 2010 show that the Craven District's diverse economy, measured in Gross Value Added (GVA), is worth £1.14 billion ($1.87 billion) Since 1998 the value of the District's economy has grown by 45%. Craven hosts a variety of small businesses – 72% employ less than four people. Businesses that employ above 50 employees (2.2%) are mostly in the south of the District.
* The visitor economy sector has the largest number of businesses.
* The banking, finance and insurance sector has experienced significant growth since 2003 mainly through the Skipton Building Society group.
* Agriculture and land-based industries form a significant part of the District's economy, particularly within the remoter areas.
* Manufacturing has declined since 2003 but is still a key sector: Major manufacturers are Systagenix Wound Management.<ref name=plan/><ref name="economics">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/Craven/Business/EconomicDevelopment/ |title=Craven District Council Economic Development Unit |access-date=30 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819115018/http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/Craven/Business/EconomicDevelopment/ |archive-date=19 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Traditional mainstays===

====Agriculture====
The business of agriculture revolves around the [[market towns]] of Craven:
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+ The market days of Craven<ref name="daelnet ">{{cite web|url=http://www.daelnet.co.uk/local/market_days.cfm|title=Yorkshire Dales market days around the towns from Dalenet|access-date=21 June 2016|archive-date=27 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627060305/http://www.daelnet.co.uk/local/market_days.cfm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
! Market town	!! Street market	!! Farmers 	!! Crops auction	!! Cattle auction	!! Other livestock
|-
| [[Bentham, North Yorkshire|Bentham]] 	|| Wed 	|| 1st Sat 	|| –	|| Wed: primestock<ref name=RTS>Richard Turner & Sons of Bentham and Clitheroe</ref>	||1st Tues: dairy, sheep, seasonals
|-
| [[Ingleton, North Yorkshire|Ingleton]] 	|| Fri 	|| inactive || – || – 	|| – 	
|-
| [[Settle, North Yorkshire|Settle]] 	|| Tues 	|| 2nd Sun 	|| –	|| – 	|| – 	
|-
| [[Gisburn]]<ref>[[Gisburn]] is now in Lancashire but is still an auction market for Craven</ref> 	|| –	|| –	|| Thur: hay and straw	|| Thur: prime, dairy, sheep<ref name=RTS/>	|| 1st and 3rd Sat: breeding, store		
|-
| [[Grassington]] 	|| inactive || 3rd Sun	|| inactive || inactive || inactive	
|-
| [[Skipton]]	|| Mon Wed Fri Sat 	|| 1st Sat	|| Mon: crops and produce	|| Mon: prime, dairy, sheep<ref name=CCM>Craven Cattle Marts Ltd of Skipton also have auctions of seasonal livestock on Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat</ref>	|| 1st and 3rd Wed: store, pedigree
|}

AHDB, the national Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board,<ref name=AHDB>{{cite web |url=http://www.ahdb.org.uk/ |title=Welcome |access-date=2010-02-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202044712/http://www.ahdb.org.uk/ |archive-date=2 February 2010 |df=dmy-all }} The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board</ref> issues regional reports with constant updates on agricultural output:
* CATTLE: For example, at Skipton Auction Mart<ref>[http://www.ccmauctions.com/ CCM Auctions, Skipton Auction Mart]. Retrieved 19 June 2013</ref> on one day 108 cattle were sold including 55 prime steers, 53 heifers, 2 young bulls and 21 older heifers (July 2011).<ref name=EBLEX>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eblex.org.uk/markets/ |title=EBLEX, the organization for the English beef and Sheep Industry |access-date=23 July 2011 |archive-date=2 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110802152048/http://www.eblex.org.uk/markets/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In June 2013 the top price by weight was 185.5p/kg for two Aberdeen Angus-cross heifers at £1,075 ($1,681) per head.<ref name=meattrade>[https://archive.today/20130624230318/http://www.meattradenewsdaily.co.uk/news/240113/uk___cattle_markets___skipton.aspx Selling prices at Skipton Cattle Market] Meat Trade News. Retrieved 19 June 2013</ref>  	
* SHEEP: For example, at Skipton Auction Mart in one day 985 lambs and 278 ewes/rams were sold (July 2011).<ref name=EBLEX/> In June 2013 the top price by weight for lambs was 240.8p/kg at £94 ($147) per head); rams fetched a top price of £79.50 ($124) per head and sheep averaged £47.10 ($73) per head.<ref name=meattrade/>
* [[Sheep dog|SHEEP DOGS]] auctions for working dogs are held seasonally at Skipton and Bentham.<ref>{{cite web|title=Craven Cattle Marts – About|url=http://www.ccmauctions.com/About.aspx|website=www.ccmauctions.com|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref> The world record price was broken in 2011 with £6,300 ($10,270) for ''Dewi Fan'' and again in May 2016, when ''Cap'' was sold at Skipton for £16,000.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sheep dog sells for £15,000 at auction in Skipton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-36287716|access-date=21 August 2017|work=BBC News|date=14 May 2016}}</ref>
* DAIRY: Traditionally Craven milk is mostly sold as cheese. North Yorkshire in 2008 had 649 holdings with 71,518 dairy cows aged over 2 years. Average annual milk yield is 7,406 litres/cow. Wholesale production of milk for all of North Yorkshire 2009/10 was 488,894,588 litres.<ref>[http://www.dairyco.org.uk/library/market-information.aspx Daryco Org UK] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909172124/http://www.dairyco.org.uk/library/market-information.aspx |date=9 September 2011 }} Daryco Org UK</ref>
[[File:Quarry near Skirwith, Ingleton - geograph.org.uk - 91131.jpg|thumb|Quarry near Ingleton]]

Two thirds of Craven lie within the [[Yorkshire Dales]] National Park where traditional landscape preservation is required.<ref name=plan>[http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/localplan Craven District Council Adopted Local Plan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830134005/http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/localplan |date=30 August 2012 }} Craven District Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/index/lookingafter.htm |title=Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority |access-date=17 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823211716/http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/index/lookingafter.htm |archive-date=23 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Quarrying====
[[Silurian]] [[gritstone]] is quarried along the [[Craven Fault System|North Craven Fault]] above [[Ingleton, North Yorkshire|Ingleton]] and in [[River Ribble|Ribblesdale]]. Lower [[Carboniferous]] Great Scar [[Limestone]] is quarried in those areas and also near [[Grassington]]. Carboniferous [[Reef#Geologic reef|reef]] limestone is quarried around [[Skipton]].<ref name=ydnp_geology>{{cite book |title=Geology of the Yorkshire Dales National Park |last= Wilson |first=Alfred |year=1992 |publisher=Yorkshire Dales National Park Committee |location=Grassington |isbn=0-905455-34-7}}</ref>

===Employment===

{|class="wikitable sortable" align="left"
|+ Employment by occupation<ref>NOMIS local labour force survey, annual population survey 2001</ref>
! Occupation !! %	
|-
| Sales and customer service || 6
|-
| Personnel services || 7
|-
| Process: Plant || 8
|-
| Administration || 10
|-
| Elementary || 12
|-
| Professional occupations || 12
|-
| Associate Professionals || 12
|-
| Skilled Trades || 16
|-
| Managers and senior officials || 17
|}

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Employees by industrial sector 2008<ref name=ABI/>
! Sector	!! Quantity	!! %
|-
| Agriculture	|| 362	|| 1.4
|-
| Manufacturing	|| 2,602	|| 9.8
|-
| Construction	|| 1,759	|| 6.6
|-
| Distribution, Hotels and Restaurants	|| 7,383	|| 27.8
|-
| Transport and Communications	|| 781	|| 2.9
|-
| Banking, Finance and Insurance	|| 7,522	|| 28.3
|-
| Public Administration, Education and Health 	|| 5,357	|| 20.1
|-
| Other	|| 825	|| 3.1
|}
{{clear}}
In 2008 there were 26,591 employed; 22% were self-employed. In 2010 each Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employee contributed £40,311 to the District's economy, representing an increase in productivity of 21.9% since 1998; an annual increase of 1.8%. The value of output per capita (estimated to be £19,703) has increased by 32% since 1998.<ref name=economics/>

== Transport ==
There are no motorways in the area.  It was shown by a national detailed Land Use Survey by the [[Office for National Statistics]] in 2005, that Craven has the least proportion of land taken up by roads of any district in England: 0.7%.  This compared with a maximum of over 20% in four London boroughs and the [[City of London]].<ref name=ons>{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/|title=Detect browser settings|first=Neil|last=Sillitoe|date=14 April 2008|work=Neighbourhood Statistics|access-date=21 June 2016|archive-date=11 February 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030211201309/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Passes===
{{main|Aire Gap}}
[[File:Gaps through Pennine Mountains UK topographic map.gif|thumb|right|The central [[Pennines]] can be easily traversed by [[#Passes|low passes]]:
* [[Airedale]] to Ribblesdale {{convert|144|m|abbr=on|0}} near [[Barnoldswick]].
* Airedale to [[Pendle Water]] {{convert|165|m|abbr=on|0}} near [[Colne]].
* [[Ribblesdale]] to [[Lonsdale Hundred|Lonsdale]] {{convert|166|m|abbr=on|0}} near [[Settle, North Yorkshire|Settle]].<ref name="earth"/>]]
[[Pennines#Transport|Transport]] can find the [[Pennines]] a barrier on occasion when some roads are blocked by snow for several days. Craven is of great significance to the North of England for by [[#Topography|its topography]] it provides low-altitude [[Mountain pass|pass]]es through [[Pennines|"the backbone of England"]]. They were especially significant for the railway and canal builders. The lowest passes through the Pennines are:
* The [[Airedale]] to Ribblesdale pass near [[Barnoldswick]] is {{convert|144|m|abbr=on|0}} at [[Thornton-in-Craven]] {{Coord|53.93413|N|2.16276|W|display=inline|name=The Barnoldswick pass between Airedale and Ribblesdale}}
* The Airedale to Ribblesdale pass near [[Settle, North Yorkshire|Settle]] is {{convert|160|m|abbr=on|0}} just East of [[Hellifield]] {{Coord|54.00000|N|2.16667|W|display=inline|name=the Airedale and Ribblesdale pass near Settle}} a point labelled Aire Gap on some maps.<ref name="Bing Maps">[http://www.bing.com/maps Bing Maps] Enter "Aire Gap, United Kingdom"</ref>
* The Airedale to Pendle Water pass near [[Colne]] is {{convert|165|m|abbr=on|0}} at [[Foulridge]] {{Coord|53.8768|N|2.176420|W|display=inline|name=The Foulridge Pass near Colne}} also sometimes called Aire Gap.
* The Ribblesdale to [[Lonsdale Hundred|Lonsdale]] pass near Settle is {{convert|166|m|abbr=on|0}} at [[Giggleswick]] Scar {{Coord|54.074167|N|2.318056|W|display=inline|name=The lowest pass from Ribblesdale to Lonsdale}}<ref name="earth"/>

The nearest alternative pass through the Pennines is [[Stainmore#Geography|Stainmore Gap]] (Eden-Tees)<ref name="OS">[http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/leisure Ordnance Survey Explorer Map, OL41, Forest of Bowland and Ribblesdale] {{ISBN|978-0-319-24071-7}}</ref> to the North, but that is not in Craven's league for it climbs to {{convert|420|m|abbr=on|0}} and its climate is [[Pennines#Climate|classed as sub-arctic]] in places.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/regmapavge.html# |title=Regional mapped climate averages |publisher=The Met Office |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229172355/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/regmapavge.html |archive-date=29 December 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref>

The nearest low-level routes across the country are over {{convert|100|km|0|order=flip}} away: the {{convert|228|m|abbr=on|0}} [[River Tyne|Tyne Gap]] to the north, or the [[A619 road]] in [[Derbyshire]] to the south.<ref name="earth"/>

===Main routes===
* [[A59 road]]: [[York]], [[Harrogate]], Skipton, [[Barnoldswick]], [[Clitheroe]], [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]], [[Liverpool]]
* [[A65 road]]: [[Ilkley]], Skipton, Settle, [[Ingleton, North Yorkshire|Ingleton]], [[Kendal]]
* [[A629 road]]: Skipton, Keighley, [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]], [[Huddersfield]], [[Rotherham]]
* [[A56 road]]: [[Earby]], Colne, [[M65 motorway]], [[Burnley]], [[Manchester]], [[Chester]]
* Train: [[Skipton railway station]] to [[Leeds]] on the [[Airedale Line]]
* Train: Skipton railway station to [[Morecambe]] on the [[Leeds–Morecambe line]]
* Train: [[Settle railway station]] to Carlisle or Leeds on [[Settle–Carlisle line]]

====A59 York–Liverpool====
The [[A59 road#Yorkshire|A59 road]] runs along the southern edge of Airedale to Ribblesdale. It runs about {{convert|1|km|mi|2|order=flip}} north of a disused [[#Roman occupation|Roman road through Craven]] that took the lowest pass through Thornton-in-Craven.

==== A56 Skipton–Chester ====
The route now known as the A56—-M65 first developed {{circa|1773–1816}} as the [[Leeds and Liverpool Canal]] to carry heavy industrial goods like [[masonry]] stone, limestone, and coal.<ref name = "llcs">{{cite web| year = 2006| url = http://www.llcs.org.uk//whitep2.htm| title = The Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society Chronology| work = Northern Heritage| access-date = 14 June 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080725170202/http://www.llcs.org.uk/whitep2.htm| archive-date = 25 July 2008| url-status = dead}}</ref> The planned route into Ribblesdale was via a lower level pass but the [[Industrial Revolution]] in [[Nelson, Lancashire#History|Nelson]] and [[Colne#History|Colne]] made it seem more profitable to change their route to Foulridge near Colne despite it being the highest pass.

====A629 and A65 Keighley–Kendal====
{{main|Keighley and Kendal Turnpike}}
[[File:River Aire - Main Road, Kildwick - geograph.org.uk - 1016839.jpg|thumb|right|The new A629, built 1968–88, bypasses Kildwick village]]
The route of the [[A65 road]] is perhaps the oldest for it follows a [[Neolithic]] [[#Prehistory|trade route for stone axes from central Cumbria]]. By the 18th century the principal exports were cattle and most imports came on ninety pack horses from [[Kendal]].<ref name="ancient">{{cite book |title=The Ancient Parish of Giggleswick |first1= Thomas |last1= Brayshaw |first2= Ralph&nbsp;M. |last2=Robinson |year=1932 |publisher=Halton and Co.|location=London}}[http://www.northcravenhistoricalresearch.co.uk OCR copy by North Craven Historical Research] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509054449/http://northcravenhistoricalresearch.co.uk/ |date=9 May 2008 }} Retrieved 30 September 2012</ref> The cost of that for heavy goods was prohibitive<ref name="kendale">[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=49337#s4 Introduction To The Main Roads of Kendale] British Historyac.uk. Retrieved 30 September 2012</ref> so the textile industrialist of [[Settle, North Yorkshire|Settle]] campaigned that the road from Keighley to Kendal be made passable to wheeled vehicles<ref name="ancient"/> and in 1753 the [[Keighley and Kendal Turnpike]] Trust was founded. By 1840 passenger [[stagecoach]]es ran daily<ref name="kendale"/> but in 1878 Parliament abolished all Turnpikes and set up [[County Council]]s; and the management of the main roads was transferred to them.<ref name="kendale" />{{rp|p.7}}

By 1968 traffic had so increased in volume that it necessitated the rebuilding of the A629 and A65. The [[Skipton]] northern [[Bypass (road)|bypass]] of 1981 cost £16.4&nbsp;million. The Kildwick bypass was completed in 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.farnhill.co.uk/History_Docs/Roads%20-%20Issue5.pdf|title=From Keighley to Skipton – a journey of 1900 years|work=farnhill.co.uk|access-date=21 August 2017|page=23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821170056/http://www.farnhill.co.uk/History_Docs/Roads%20-%20Issue5.pdf|archive-date=21 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Education==

=== Educational attainment ===
The proportion of the working age population with high levels of educational attainment is above the national average, and 40% of the District's residents have managerial and professional occupations.
Also Lantra's Landskills offers workshops in efficiency and profitability in agriculture, horticulture and forestry with up to 70% funding. Craven is covered in ''Farm Business Support and Development''  and ''Yorkshire Rural Training Network''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lantra.co.uk/LandSkills-YH |title=Lantra Landskills Yorkshire and Humber |access-date=30 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715202015/http://www.lantra.co.uk/LandSkills-YH |archive-date=15 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Yet from 2004 to 2009 there was generally a decline in attainment of about 12% and the number of people in the District with no qualifications increased by 1.8%. Such people have reduced employment options, however Craven College<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.craven-college.ac.uk/index.php|title=Welcome – Craven College|access-date=21 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905120052/http://www.craven-college.ac.uk/index.php|archive-date=5 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> in Skipton is one of the largest Further Education Colleges in North Yorkshire and provides an outreach service to rural areas.<ref name=plan/>

=== Museums ===
[[Craven Museum & Gallery]]<ref>[http://www.cravenmuseum.org Craven Museum & Gallery, Skipton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801092355/http://cravenmuseum.org/ |date=1 August 2015 }} Retrieved 19 June 2013</ref> in Skipton is one of three museums in the district. It has obtained funding to deliver various projects:
* The Phoenix Project; delivered in partnership with the three other museums in Craven increased accessibility of collections.
* The Archaeology in the Landscape project, targeting young people, families and the disadvantaged, delivers events, workshops, demonstrations and education programmes to 3,460 young people and over 17,000 adults.
*The Young Archaeologists Club programme delivered museum education to approx 3,000 students 2009–2010.

As part of the projects above Craven Museum & Gallery staff worked with both the Museum of North Craven Life, The Folly in Settle<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncbpt.org.uk/|title=NCBPT: North Craven Building Preservation Trust|last=|accessdate=21 June 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810135409/http://www.ncbpt.org.uk/|archivedate=10 August 2016}}</ref> and the Grassington Folk Museum.<ref name=plan/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grassingtonfolkmuseum.org.uk|title=Home|work=Grassington Folk Museum|access-date=20 October 2016}}</ref>

=== Arts ===
Craven District supports arts through music, theatre, dance, literature, visual arts and festivals. Funding from the Arts Council England (Yorkshire) alone totalled £435,811 between 2006 and 2009. Grants from other sources including the Gulbenkian Fund and Esme Fairburn Trust totalling well over an additional £160,000.<ref name=plan/> A new exhibition gallery was opened in 2005 at Craven Museum & Gallery,<ref>[http://www.cravenmuseum.org Craven Museum & Gallery] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801092355/http://cravenmuseum.org/ |date=1 August 2015 }} Skipton</ref> Skipton, which now hosts a programme of exhibitions each year.

== Media ==
In terms of television, the district is covered by [[BBC Yorkshire]] and [[ITV Yorkshire]] broadcast from the [[Emley Moor transmitting station|Emley Moor]] TV transmitter. However, north western parts of the district including [[Settle, North Yorkshire|Settle]] is served by [[BBC North West]] and [[ITV Granada]] which broadcast from the [[Winter Hill transmitting station|Winter Hill]] TV transmitter.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regional TV in the western Yorkshire Dales and north-east Lancashire |url=https://northwestisnorthwest.org/2021/08/16/regional-tv-in-the-western-yorkshire-dales-and-north-east-lancashire/ |website=northwestisnorthwest.org |access-date=30 March 2024 |date=16 August 2021}}</ref>

[[BBC Local Radio]] for the district is served by [[BBC Radio York]] on 104.3 FM and [[BBC Radio Lancashire]] on 104.5 FM. County-wide commercial station are [[Greatest Hits Radio Yorkshire]] (formerly [[Stray FM]]) on 107.8 FM and community based stations are [[Drystone Radio]] on 103.5 FM and [[Dales Radio]] (covering Settle and [[Ingleton, North Yorkshire|Ingleton]]) on 104.9 FM.

The district's local newspaper is the ''[[Craven Herald & Pioneer]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Craven Herald & Pioneer {{!}} British Newspapers Online |url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-yorks/craven-herald/ |website=britishpapers.co.uk |access-date=30 March 2024 |date=28 May 2014}}</ref>

==Sport==
Craven Council opened the ''Craven Pool and Fitness Centre'' in 2003 and extended it in 2007. The Centre reached the semi-finals in the Best Semi Best Sports Project category of The National Lottery Awards. The ''Craven Active Sports Network'' develops opportunities for participation in sport and active recreation, sourcing funding for a variety of projects throughout the District, totalling over £14.5 million in 2001–2011. The ''National Sport Unlimited Scheme'', delivering a programme of sporting activity to 1,205 young people and teenagers, brought in £45,000 of external funding.<ref name=plan/>

==Notable people==
In 1665 [[Lady Anne Clifford]], 14th Baroness de Clifford, owned and restored [[Skipton Castle]].

In 1548 [[William Craven (Lord Mayor of London)|William Craven of Appletreewick]] was born to a modest family in [[Appletreewick]] near Skipton. At age 14 he was sent to London to apprentice to a Watling Street tailor. He qualified in 1569 and made such a fine impression that in 1600 he was made Alderman of Bishopgate; in 1603 he was knighted by James I and in 1610 he was chosen Lord Mayor of London. He is sometimes referred to as "Aptrick's Dick Whittington" suggesting that the story of [[Dick Whittington]] is based on his life.<ref>{{cite book|last=Peach|first=Howard|title=Curious tales of Old North Yorkshire|publisher=Sigma Leisure|year=2003|pages=13–14|chapter=People: Aptrick's Dick Whittington|isbn=1-85058-793-0|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lSGub5NxZNYC&q=william+craven+dick+whittington&pg=PA13|access-date=20 August 2008}}</ref> William made benefactions to Craven, founding the school in [[Burnsall]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.burnsall.ik.org/news/24861166563.ikml|title=History of Burnsall School|access-date=27 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911115107/http://www.burnsall.ik.org/news/24861166563.ikml|archive-date=11 September 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

One of William's sons, John Craven, founded the famous Craven Scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and in 1647 left many large charitable bequests to Craven towns including Burnsall and Skipton.

In 1660 William's first son [[William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven (1608–1697)|William Craven]] was made the first [[Earl of Craven]] by Charles II. However, that title was [[eponym]]ous for the estate was in Uffington, Berkshire so he was in no sense a [[Titular ruler|lord]] of Craven Yorkshire.

The botanist [[George Caley]] (1770–1829) was born in Craven.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:River Wenning - geograph.org.uk - 116841.jpg|[[River Wenning]] passing The Punch Bowl in [[Low Bentham]]
File:View of High Bentham from path.jpg|View of [[High Bentham]] from the Heritage Trail
File:View of Settle from Castlebergh.jpg|View of [[Settle, North Yorkshire|Settle]] from Castlebergh, a 300 feet (91 m) limestone crag
File: Hillside above Settle and the Langcliffe mills - geograph.org.uk - 782271.jpg|View back across the Ribble to [[Giggleswick]] Scar
File:River Aire south of Malham.jpg|[[Airedale]] South of [[Malham]]
File:Gargrave Milepost - geograph.org.uk - 1331010.jpg| Gargrave's milestone on the [[Keighley and Kendal Turnpike]], 1753–1878
File:River Aire Gargrave.jpg|The [[River Aire]] at [[Gargrave]]
File:View from Skipton moor.jpg|View of [[Skipton]] from Skipton Moor
File:Kildwick Bridge 14th century side.jpg|[[Kildwick Bridge]] west side built 1305–1313 with ribbed vaulting
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of places of worship in Craven]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |title=The Dialect of Craven |url=https://archive.org/details/dialectcraven00unkngoog |trans-title =Horæ momenta Cravenæ |last= Carr|first=William |year=1828 |publisher=Wm. Crofts |location=London |isbn= 978-0-554-43398-1}}
*{{cite book|last1=Pontefract|first1=Ella|author-link=Ella Pontefract| first2= Marie |last2=Hartley|title=Wharfedale|publisher=J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd|place=London|year=1938|isbn= 978-1-870071-21-5}}
*{{cite book|last=Whitaker|first=Thomas Dunham |title=The History and Antiquities of the Deanery of Craven, in the county of York|publisher= Nichols, Payne etc| year=1805|isbn=978-1-241-34269-2}}. Viewable online as [http://www.skiptoncastle.co.uk/history-of-craven.asp?page=17 Whitaker's History of Craven] pdf Skipton Castle Co UK. Retrieved 12 June 2013

==External links==
* [http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/ Craven District Council]
* [http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/ North Yorkshire County Council]
* [http://www.cravenmuseum.org/ Craven Museum & Gallery, Skipton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801092355/http://cravenmuseum.org/ |date=1 August 2015 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080509054449/http://northcravenhistoricalresearch.co.uk/ North Craven Historical Research Group, Settle]
* [http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/ The Craven Herald & Pioneer]
{{Local authorities in North Yorkshire}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Craven}}
[[Category:Craven, Yorkshire| ]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2023 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:Leeds City Region]]
[[Category:Former non-metropolitan districts of North Yorkshire]]