Craven is a
local government districtNon-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As originally created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
in
North YorkshireNorth Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county, located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county in that region and also partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest ceremonial...
,
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The name
Craven is Celtic (Cumbric) in origin and is related to the
WelshWelsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of Celtic spoken natively in Wales, in England by some along the Welsh border and in the Welsh immigrant colony in the Chubut Valley in Argentine Patagonia....
word
craf, or "
garlicAllium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion family Alliaceae. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, and chive. Garlic has been used throughout recorded history for both culinary and medicinal purposes. It has a characteristic pungent, spicy flavor that...
". In the Middle Ages, the area was known for its wild garlic.
Craven, or
Cravenshire has been used as a name for the area around
SkiptonSkipton is a civil parish and historic market town in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England...
for centuries, although the boundaries have differed. Occasionally Craven has included the local towns of
KeighleyKeighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
(now part of the
City of BradfordThe City of Bradford is a local government district of West Yorkshire, England with the status of a city and metropolitan borough. It is named after its largest settlement, Bradford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Keighley, Shipley, Bingley and Ilkley...
) and
BarnoldswickBarnoldswick is a town and civil parish within the West Craven area of the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England just outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
(now part of the
LancashireLancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Lancashire County Council is based in Preston. However, Lancaster is still considered to be the county town...
borough of
PendlePendle is a local government district and borough of Lancashire, England, on the North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire borders. It adjoins the Lancashire boroughs of Burnley and Ribble Valley...
). There is a
Craven wardCraven is an electoral ward in the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, West Yorkshire, England.It encompasses the villages of Steeton in the south, Silsden in the centre and Addingham in the north....
in the district of the
City of BradfordThe City of Bradford is a local government district of West Yorkshire, England with the status of a city and metropolitan borough. It is named after its largest settlement, Bradford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Keighley, Shipley, Bingley and Ilkley...
.
History
A Craven
local government districtNon-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As originally created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
of
North YorkshireNorth Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county, located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county in that region and also partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest ceremonial...
came into being in
1974The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, centred on the market town of
SkiptonSkipton is a civil parish and historic market town in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England...
. In the changes to British local government of that year it was formed as the merger of
SkiptonSkipton is a civil parish and historic market town in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England...
urban district, Settle Rural District and most of
Skipton Rural DistrictSkipton was a rural district in the West Riding of Yorkshire from 1894 to 1974. It was named after Skipton, which constituted an urban district on its southern border....
, all in the
West Riding of YorkshireThe West Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
.
Governance
Craven is administered by the Craven District Council which is made up of 30 councillors who represent the 19
wardsA ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at subnational level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography ....
that make up the district.
For representation on North Yorkshire County Council Craven is divided into seven divisions and returns one councillor per division.
On a national level Craven forms part of the Skipton and Ripon which is currently represented by the
ConservativeThe Conservative and Unionist Party, more commonly known as the Conservatives, the Conservative Party, or Tory Party is a conservative political party in the United Kingdom...
Member of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a parliament. In many countries the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a unique title, such as senate, and thus also have unique titles for its members, such as senators. Members of...
David CurryDavid Maurice Curry is a British politician. He is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Skipton and Ripon.-Early life:...
.
External links