Skyrack
Skyrack was a wapentake of the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was split into upper and lower divisions and centred on Leeds. The Lower Division included the parishes of Aberford, Bardsey, Barwick-in-Elmet, Kippax, Thorner, Whitkirk and part of Harewood, while the Upper Division included the parishes of Adel, Bingley, Guiseley and parts of Harewood, Ilkley and Otley.
The Skyrack wapentake derives its name from a large oak that grew for centuries within Headingley, Leeds. It is believed that the word "skyrack" comes from the Old English phrase - 'Scir ac' meaning "Shire Oak" under which meetings were held.[1] The Oak finally collapsed in 1941. There is a small plaque to commemorate it on the outside of the garden wall of the Original Oak pub. It also gives its name to the Skyrack pub which is located opposite to the Original Oak.
From 1959-1971, science fiction fan Ron Bennett of Harrogate published a well-known science fiction fanzine titled Skyrack[2].
For some time there was a weekly free newspaper in Leeds titled The Skyrack Express, affiliated with the Wakefield Express.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Peter Hunter Blair, Simon Keynes, An Introduction to Anglo-Saxon England, (Cambridge University Press) p. 236
- ^ Skyrack website and index
Coordinates: 53°49′10″N 1°34′34″W / 53.8195°N 1.5762°W
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