Skelmanthorpe is a village in West Yorkshire, England.

First called "Skilmannathorpe", it was then called "Skelmansthorpe" until a few hundred years ago, when it was changed to "Skelmanthorpe".

Locals know it as "Shat". According to legend, when the DeLacy family who owned much of the land wanted tough soldiers, they sought them out in Skelmanthorpe. These men were known as "Shatters" (they used to shatter things), from which the word "Shat" comes.

Two hundred years ago, Skelmanthorpe Feast was a riotous affair with bull and bear-baiting and organised dog fights.

Handloom weaving thrived in the village during the 1800s, and many houses are still obviously weaver's cottages. As late as 1890, there were 200 handlooms in cottages in Skelmanthorpe.

Skelmanthorpe has its own steam railway, the Kirklees Light Railway.

Skelmanthorpe was used in filming a 1970s television sitcom, Oh No, it's Selwyn Froggett.

The village has its own cricket team, and its own cricket pitch.