Skerton, Lancashire Family History Guide

Skerton is an Ecclesiastical Parish in the county of Lancashire, created in 1834 from Lancaster St Mary Ancient Parish.

Alternative names: Lancaster Skerton St Luke

Parish church: St. Luke

Parish registers begin:

  • Parish registers: 1834
  • Bishop’s Transcripts: 1834County: Lancashire

Nonconformists include:

Adjacent Parishes

Parish History

A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848

SKERTON, a township, in the parish of Lancaster, hundred of Lonsdale south of the Sands, N. division of Lancashire, ¾ of a mile (N.) from Lancaster; containing 1665 inhabitants.

This place, in the Domesday survey “Schertune,” was held by the Saxon Earl Tosti; and is named among the possessions of the crown in the 6th of Henry III., when it gave name to a family who held it by reeveship. Skerton was accounted a manor among the estates of John of Gaunt in 1361, and in the 16th of Henry VII. was held as a manor by Sir James Laurence; but in subsequent inquisitions, it is not styled a manor.

The township, which is separated from Lancaster by the river Lune, comprises 1177 acres, and commands a beautiful view of the castle and town of Lancaster.

The village is large, and chiefly occupied by persons out of trade, and by farmers and their labourers. On the Lune is a considerable salmon fishery; and there are some marble-works in the township. The railway from Lancaster to Carlisle, after crossing the river, passes through Skerton. Among the mansions and seats are Ryelands, the property of Jonathan Dunn, Esq., and Richmond House, that of John Walmsley, Esq.

A church, dedicated to St. Luke, was built in 1833, at a cost of £1200: the living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of Five Trustees; net income, £100.

A free school was built by Jane Jephson, and endowed with £10 a year by Henry Williamson in 1767. The impropriate tithes have been commuted for £74.

Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848

Parish Records

FamilySearch

England, Lancashire, Skerton – Cemeteries ( 2 )
Burials in the burial ground provided by the Burial Board for the township of Lancaster in the county of Lancaster : Lancaster borough cemetery records, 1855-1956

Skerton Cemetery, graves register, ca. 1950-2000; with index to graves, 1950-2000; burial order book, 1904-1969; index to burial book, 1904-1949; and burial register, 1956-1999
Author: Skerton Cemetery (Skerton, Lancashire)

England, Lancashire, Skerton – Census ( 1 )
Census returns for Skerton, 1841-1891
Author: Great Britain. Census Office

England, Lancashire, Skerton – Church records ( 2 )
Bishop’s transcripts for Overton, 1678-1840
Author: Church of England. Chapelry of Overton (Lancashire); Church of England. Chapelry of Poulton-le-Sands (Lancashire); Church of England. Chapelry of Quernmoor (Lancashire); Church of England. Chapelry of Skerton (Lancashire); Church of England. Chapelry of Stalmine (Lancashire)

Parish registers for Skerton, 1834-1900
Author: Church of England. Chapelry of Skerton (Lancashire)

Administration

  • County: Lancashire
  • Civil Registration District: Lancaster
  • Probate Court: Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Western Deaneries – Amounderness
  • Diocese: Manchester
  • Rural Deanery: Amounderness
  • Poor Law Union: Lancaster
  • Hundred: Lonsdale
  • Province: York