The Place family’s connection to Skelton began in 1784 when the Skelton manor and estates were divided into four lots and sold following the death of the last direct heir of the Brook line who had held the property since 1654. Two of the lots were subsequently purchased by Mary Place, the widow of Thomas Place who had been Clerk of the Peace for West Yorkshire.

At her death c.1807 the Skelton manor and estates passed to her son Edward Place and at some point between 1807 and 1817 he built a house there, Skelton Grange. In 1787 Edward had married Lady Anne Gordon, the third daughter of the Earl of Aberdeen and he would later acquire the Lochdochart and Crianlarich estates in Perthshire, Scotland.

Edward Place died c.1843 and the estate passed to his son Edward Gordon Place who rebuilt the Grange in 1866 following a fire.