Description and History of Site:-
John Manby ( -1878) established a watchmaking and ironmongery business in 1817 at 62 High Street, Skipton. The shop at this address continued in the Manby family until the 1980's as an ironmongers supplying all manner of household items, such as washing wringers, washing machines, fire ranges, fireplaces, kitchen implements, garden tools, the business also sold shooting supplies such as black powder and shot to gamekeepers in the Craven area.
By 1893 the family had expanded their business and now also operated as ironfounders at their Craven Ironworks on Lower Union Street in Skipton built alongside the Leeds Liverpool canal with its own wharf and trading as Fred Manby & Brother, (John's sons).
Craven Ironworks manufactured domestic and agricultural products including,chain pumps, chaff cutters, cheese presses and dairy appliances, washing machines, wringing machines, fire ranges and fireplaces, street drain covers and coal-hole doors along with many other household and agricultural products.
One of the ironworks buildings is still extant and now converted to residential housing.

Further Reading and References:-
https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/19641497.nostalgia-craven-ironworks-fred-manbys/

1893 Kelly's Directory of West Riding of Yorkshire p792

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Key Words :- iron founding

Viewing the Site :- From public footpath.

Address :- Lower Union Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire
Grid Ref :- SD 98973 51266
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.957482 , Long -2.017139
Local Authority :- Craven District Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - Protected status unknown
Site Condition :- Site refurbished to residential housing
Record Date :- 17 August 2022

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Andrew Garford