Skilgate
{{Short description|Village and civil parish in Somerset, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2013}}
{{infobox UK place
|country = England
|coordinates = {{coord|51.0378|-3.4490|display=inline,title}}
|official_name= Skilgate
|population = 96
|unitary_england = Somerset Council
|lieutenancy_england = Somerset
|region= South West England
|constituency_westminster= Tiverton and Minehead
|post_town= Taunton
|postcode_district = TA4
|postcode_area=TA
|dial_code=
|os_grid_reference=SS985275
|static_image = File:St John the Baptist, Skilgate - geograph.org.uk - 693728.jpg
|static_image_caption = St John the Baptist
|static_image_2 = Village Hall, Skilgate - geograph.org.uk - 693782.jpg
|static_image_2_width = 250px
|static_image_2_caption = Village Hall
}}
Skilgate is a village and civil parish {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} east of Dulverton and {{convert|8|mi|km|0}} west of Wiveliscombe in Somerset, England. It has a population of 96.
The parish, which covers an area of 866 ha, straddles the boundary of the Exmoor National Park lying on the southern edge of the Brendon Hills, and is close to the border with Devon.
History
In the Domesday Book the village was recorded as Scheligate, possibly meaning 'the opening on the boundary'. At that time it was held by Robert de Gatemore under Roger Arundel along with another manor in the parish known as Milton. They passed in the 20th century to the Ferguson Davie baronets.{{cite book|last=Bush|first=Robin|title=Somerset: The Complete Guide|publisher=Dovecote Press|date=1994|pages=[https://archive.org/details/somersetcomplete0000bush/page/184 184]|isbn=1-874336-26-1|url=https://archive.org/details/somersetcomplete0000bush/page/184}}
The parish of Skillgate was part of the Williton and Freemanners Hundred.{{cite web|title=Somerset Hundreds|url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/|publisher=GENUKI|accessdate=23 October 2011}}
Governance
The Parish Meeting has responsibility for local issues, there being no Parish Council.{{cite web|title=Skilgate Parish council - West Somerset Council|url=https://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/Council---Democracy/Parish-and-Town-Councils/Parishes/Skilgate.aspx|website=West Somerset Council|accessdate=18 November 2015}}
For local government purposes, since 1 April 2023, the parish comes under the unitary authority of Somerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of the non-metropolitan district of Somerset West and Taunton (formed on 1 April 2019) and, before this, the district of West Somerset (established under the Local Government Act 1972). It was part of Dulverton Rural District before 1974.[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10001547&c_id=10001043 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Dulverton Rural District] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323235812/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10001547 |date=23 March 2012 }}
It is also part of the Tiverton and Minehead county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Religious sites
The Church of St John has a 14th-century tower, but the rest of the church was rebuilt in 1872. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building.{{NHLE | desc=Church of St John | num=1248077 | accessdate=4 February 2008}}