Skipton is a small town in the Yorkshire Dales and home to possibly the best preserved medieval fortress in the North of England. In the 17th century after servere damage from its "slighting" following the Civil War its then owner and occupant, Lady Anne Clifford, the Countess of Pembroke, had it very thoroughly repaired. Cromwell was not enthusiastic about this but Lady Anne was a tough character and got her way, although one condition was that the roof had to be weaker than before so as not to take the weight of cannon.
She also restored her castles further north in Westmorland - in Brougham, Brough, Appleby and Mallerstang (Pendragon) - although with the exception of Appleby these fell into ruin again in later centuries.
Skipton Castle has survived exceptionally well. After being bought in the 1950s by a family with long business connections to Skipton many needed repairs were carried out, and today while the later Tudor section is a private home the medieval castle is open to visitors - with a fully intact roof so that even on a damp day one can wander round the rooms at leisure, guide book in hand.
Visitors to the Yorkshire Dales, on days when not out walking in the splendid nearby Ribblesdale, Airedale and Wharfedale countryside, are well advised to take some time out to visit Skipton Castle.
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