Skerton

Skerton is an area in the north of Lancaster, England, on the other side of the River Lune to the castle. It was formerly a township, but in the late 1800s it was incorporated into Lancaster and the neighbouring townships. Skerton Bridge takes the A6 northwards from the city towards Carlisle.

The origin of the name is based on Old Norse sker, Skerton meaning the tun by the reefs (i.e. sand banks in the River Lune which ran through the original Township). The history of the Township to 1914 is shown in the Victoria County History.

Neighbouring Lancaster annexed parts of Skerton in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when the Township was divided between Lancaster and adjacent parishes. The records, show variants the name over time,'Skerton'(1200),'Skereton'(1292), 'Storton'(1201), and 'Sherton' (1292). Of those evolutions of the original Norse name Skerton is the modern version.

After the Conquest of 1066, which saw control of the 'realm of England' transferred from the Saxon kings to William the Conqueror, the town of Lancaster was seized as the personal fiefdom of the Norman King. The historic hill that now plays host to the castle had previously been the site of a Roman fort and, following the Norman Conquest, was designated as the site upon which to build what is now Lancaster Castle.

The land being carved up by the Norman aristocracy, the land playing host to 'Schertune' was granted to the Halton fee, of which Earl Tostig, (See Tostig Godwinson), was a member. Tostig, having been loyal to the Norman King was rewarded in this instance with personal possession of Skerton, (Amongst other rewards of land). During his possession, the Skerton was assessed as being 'six-plough lands'.

After Tostig's possession, Skerton was retained in demesne by the Lords of Lancaster; in 1094, demesne tithes from Skerton were granted to St Martin's at Sees by Count Roger of Poitou, (See Roger the Poitevin). The land surrounding Skerton remained more or less 'Virgo intacta', an exception being made when half a Plough-land was granted to William De Skerton, (Reeve from 1201 to 1202), to be held by this Serjeanty.

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