A Brief History of Kippax
The village of Kippax dates back through the centuries, the earliest mention being in the "Doomsday Survey" of 1086, in which the village was valued at 16 pounds sterling! The Church of Saint Mary's remains the oldest building in the village, and is thought to have been built by the Normans in about 1080. Apart from some minor modifications over the centuries, the building has remained almost unchanged and is privileged to have been granted a Grade One Listing - the highest order of preservation in the UK.
Coal mining, the then primary source of industrial labour, was mentioned in documents dating back to around 1320. The industry had steadily increased in importance through the centuries until the rationalisation plans of the 1980's. Its final demise came in the closure of the local coal pit at nearby Allerton-by-Water in 1992.
Modern day Kippax is now a mixture of old and new, with housing being the principle priority. While some local trades have come and gone, large projects, such as the Co-op store (formerly the GT Smith Supermarket), have made an overnight impact on village life. Others, such as Auto Spares Kippax (A.S.K.), have evolved steadily over the years. With a population exceeding 10,000, Kippax could well be referred to as a "dormitory village", with most earning their living outside the village.
Information courtesy of E. N. Pickles.
