Collection: Museum of North Craven Life

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The Museum of North Craven Life was established by the volunteers of the Settle and District Civic Society following an exhibition of material loaned by local people that was mounted in 1977 in Twisleton’s Yard, Upper Settle, to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II. The museum’s purpose was to collect, preserve and make accessible artefacts, photographs and ephemera from North Craven that were in danger of being lost or destroyed. With a small number of exceptions, the collections have been acquired through donation or loan. Over time, the museum collections and exhibitions programme have greatly expanded to include most aspects of the social history, working life and built heritage of the area and, more recently, to reflect its natural environment. There has also been a limited programme of collecting oral histories and contemporary material. It was first awarded Accreditation in 2013. The museum continues to be volunteer led, but appointed its first permanent member of staff in 2020.

  When the Civic Society was reconstituted as the North Craven Building Preservation Trust and the North Craven Heritage Trust, the collections were passed to NCBPT, which had charitable objects enabling it to own property. However, the two organisations continue to work closely, with NCHT regularly publishing research from the collections in the North Craven Heritage Trust Journal. The museum’s first home was in Coneygar, a former 18^th century warehouse on Victoria Street, Settle, repaired with support from the Manpower Commission. It moved to larger premises at nos. 6/8 Chapel Street, acquired 1986-89; purchase of no. 4 Chapel Street in 1993 provided offices and visitor reception.

  In 1997, NCBPT purchased the Central and South Ranges of The Folly, a Grade I listed gentleman’s residence on Victoria Street, Settle, built in 1679. The museum moved to The Folly in 2001, after renovation work was completed; it was officially opened by HRH The Prince of Wales. In 2010, The Folly’s North Range was acquired with grant funding, reuniting the whole building for the first time since the mid-18^th century. In 2019, the Chapel Street premises were sold and the collections moved to The Folly, where a former garage was re-equipped as a large object store.

  The Trust is managing The Folly’s ongoing restoration, making the building publicly accessible as a tourist attraction welcoming around 40,000 visitors a year, housing the Museum and its award-winning Coffee House, as well as offices, stores and meeting rooms. With support from NLHF, ACE, AHF, Historic England and other agencies, in 2020 NCBPT began a further programme of renovation and repairs, provision of a new catering kitchen and offices, and extensive upgrades to fire and electrical safety and security systems. Work to overhaul roofs, drainage, insulation and plasterwork will be completed in 2024, supported by Arts Council England’s Museum Estate & Development (MEND) Fund.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2020

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The primary aim of the Museum’s acquisition strategy is to collect a range of materials in order to promote a clear understanding of North Craven and its heritage by local people and visitors alike. This aim is pursued by adopting a consciously theme-based approach. The Museum collection of around 16,000 artefacts, photographs, archives and books includes items relating to the geographical area known as North Craven, comprising the parishes of Airton, Arncliffe, Austwick, Bentham, Burton-in-Lonsdale, Clapham, Giggleswick, Halton Gill, Hawkswick, Hellifield, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Ingleton, Kirkby Malham, Langcliffe, Litton, Long Preston, Malham, Otterburn, Rathmell, Settle, Stainforth, Thornton-in-Lonsdale, Tosside and Wigglesworth. The collections relate mainly to the period from 1600 to the present, but include geological specimens and some mediaeval materials.

  Existing collections fall within the following main categories:

  Fine Art

  Paintings, drawings, sketches, prints, sculpture, photographs and images depicting local topography, events and personalities or work by local artists or with a strong local provenance.

  Decorative Arts

  Furniture, furnishings and objets d’art are collected, if locally made or with strong local associations, or which are compatible with the decorative style of the Museum building.

  Literary and Musical Heritage

  Work by local writers and musicians, or with local provenance, including dialect writings, folk songs and recordings.

  Built Heritage

  Local building materials and features, plans, photographs, printed and documentary materials.

  Local Community Life

  Material relating to local government, law and order, education, welfare, amenities, local organisations, entertainment, sport, communications, currency, warfare and defence.

  Domestic and Family Life

  Material relating to all aspects of running the household, domestic records, house structure and infrastructure, heating, lighting, water and sanitation, cleaning and maintenance, food and drink, hobbies, crafts, pastimes, customs and traditions.

  Personal Life

  Material relating to personal administration and records, diaries, oral reminiscences, relics and memorials, toilet, tobacco, health and child rearing.

  Working Life

  Material relating to local trades and professions, agriculture and farming, mineral industries, textile industries, services, transport and tourism.

  The common thread linking all items in the collection is their close connection to the area and their ability to promote a better understanding of this distinctive region and its heritage to all. This aim is furthered by adopting a theme-based approach to collecting by acquiring material which complements other items in the collection.

  The collection ranges in importance from local to international significance. Some of the most important items are:

  • a collection of material relating to the Burton-in-Lonsdale pottery industry, including some 100 examples of Burton pottery dating from the late 18th to the mid-20th centuries, together with complementary photographic, documentary and oral history material, tools and clay samples.
  • the entire archive of Settle’s Zion Independent Chapel spanning a period of 200 years; consisting of around 1,000 artefacts, documents, photographs and ephemera, it provides a superb record of the social, religious and working life of the town through a time of great change
  • a family archive of around 1,000 artefacts, documents, photographs and diaries spanning a period of 100 years which both complements and enhances the Zion collection
  • copies of original letters from Elgar to his great friend and Settle doctor, Charles Buck, together with musical scores and photographs and evidence of how these were discovered and recorded
  • examples of local building materials and features, together with a comprehensive collection of photographs illustrating the uses of each
  • comprehensive collection of early 20th century medical artefacts from local doctors, illustrating the changing nature of general practice and the reasons behind it
  • comprehensive collection of blacksmiths’ tools and locally made objects, together with supporting documentation in the form of account books dating from the 19^th century
  • the Horner Photographic Studio Collection, comprising around 2000 glass plate negatives, film negatives, prints and equipment from the studio in Settle run by three members of the Horner family between 1864 and 1960.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2020

  Licence: CC BY-NC