Museum of North Craven Life @ The Folly, Settle
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thefollysettle.bsky.social
Museum of North Craven Life @ The Folly, Settle
@thefollysettle.bsky.social
17th Century Grade 1 listed house in the Yorkshire Dales, with collections and galleries celebrating the fascinating tales of the people and landscape of North Craven.
Last week we had the pleasure of visiting Kirkby Malham Primary School alongside artist Katharine Holmes to deliver a workshop for their Key Stage 2 pupils. The paintings are now on display in our Cosy Corner on the first floor. It was wonderful to meet the next generation of Dales artists!
November 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM
This week, our Friday Club have been thinking about what makes our homes feels safe, warm and comforting.

Inspired by the witchmarks on our historic building, the group created their own protective marks featuring images of what makes them feel secure and happy in their homes.
November 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM
We are delighted to share our new Main Hall Case display with you, co-curated with Dementia Forward's wellbeing cafe, Time Together Tuesdays.
November 5, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Historic bird sighting of the month: on the 1 November 1974 a little auk was seen at Kirkby Malham.

In the same month, two others were also seen around Skipton. As far as we know this is the only time this species has been recorded in Craven.

📷 Sir Iain, CC BY-SA 4.0
November 1, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Join us at The Folly for some half term fun! Tomorrow we will be making witch marks out of clay inspired by our historic building. Drop in between 11am and 4pm to make your own to take home. Suitable for little ones aged 3 and upwards. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
October 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Introducing The Horner Community Quilt!

We worked with community groups across North Craven to create cyanotypes for our community quilt. These cyanotypes feature Horner photographs, drawings, writing and found materials that celebrate our community's relationship with the Horner Studio today.
October 22, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Struggling to find ideas for your Halloween costume this year?

Check out some of the photographs in our museum online catalogue for inspiration!

This brilliant costume was one of many inventive creations on display at Settle's Jubilee Carnival of 1977.

hub.catalogit.app/museum-of-no...
October 22, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Historic bird sighting of the month: 3 October 1981, a rare sighting of an osprey flying up the Ribble Valley.

Our collections contain historic bird records going back to the 1890s. We are working with conservation groups to combine this with modern scientific data.

📷Chuck Homler, CC BY-SA 4.0
October 3, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Every fortnight we share a photograph from our Horner Collection which we would like to know more about.

Today we have this beautiful riverside scene for you. It may be a tricky location to identify, but we hope you enjoy the peacefulness of this scene regardless!
October 1, 2025 at 8:04 AM
We can't wait to celebrate the work of our community at our Horner Celebration Day on the 11th of October!

Throughout the spring and summer we have worked with different community groups across North Craven to capture what the Horner collection means to people today in cyanotype prints
September 30, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Our second exhibition showcases new pieces by the artist Katharine Holmes alongside work by her mother Philippa Holmes and grandmother Constance Pearson.

All three lived and worked in the same cottage in Malham. The exhibition explores their connections to landscape, people and life in the Dale.
September 30, 2025 at 8:42 AM
We are thrilled to open our two new exhibitions showcasing the artistic landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales.

First is a collection of works in oil by artist Jonathan Little which were inspired by the unique natural beauty of the Dales - the dramatic contours, rich textures and shifting light.
September 30, 2025 at 8:42 AM
We can't wait to welcome visitors to The Folly for our Horner Celebration Day! Join us on the 11th of October for a day of celebrating our unique historic photograph collection.
We look forward to seeing you there!
September 28, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Historic bird sighting of the month: on the 26 September 1953, a nightjar was killed near Austwick.

In the 1890s these birds were more common and were recorded breeding on Moughton Fell, but by 1953 they were very rare indeed.

📷 Alexey Tolmachov, CC BY SA 4.0
September 26, 2025 at 12:02 PM
The Folly is hosting a Horner Celebration Day!

Join us at The Folly on the 11th of October from 11:00 - 16:00 to celebrate our collection of almost 2000 photographs taken in Settle's Horner Studio.
September 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The cardboard Folly is set up and ready for our free Playtime sessions! Drop in today between 11:30-12:30, or Saturday 11-4!

#HeritageOpenDays
September 18, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Every fortnight we share a photograph from our Horner Collection which we would like to know more about. In honour of #Railway200, today's photo is railway themed.

Do you recognise the train or the section of track where this picture was taken? Presumably this is part of the Settle-Carlisle line?
September 17, 2025 at 8:23 AM
How do museum objects link to wellbeing?

Last week, Friday Club explored objects from the museum collection through the Five Ways to Wellbeing. The group worked together to choose objects that they thought related to being present, learning, connection, being active and giving
September 16, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Please excuse our appearance, we are changing exhibitions!

Our autumn-winter season is due to fully open on the 27th September. Our local history, photography, and railway galleries are open as usual.

Thank you for your patience! We look forward to sharing these fantastic new exhibitions with you!
September 16, 2025 at 9:20 AM
We are calling for expressions of interest in tendering for the fourth phase of repairs to The Folly.

Please share widely so we can reach as many potential contractors as possible.

More information here: thefolly.org.uk/about/the-tr...
September 12, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Heritage Open Days starts this weekend and the theme this year is architecture!

Why not come along on a free tour of our Grade I listed building?

Lasting about an hour, our expert guides will let you in on some of the mysteries of the house and its curious history.

Sign ups on our website!
September 11, 2025 at 11:01 AM
We are so excited to open our doors on Saturday 20th of September for our Heritage Open Days Family Fun Day! Come along and enjoy our architecture themed activities - all totally free!

Booking is available though the link: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/come-and-p...
September 10, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Don't miss our special Heritage Open Days themed Playtime session next week!
Children from local schools have been busy over the summer holidays helping us create a giant cardboard Folly for little ones to play in during Heritage Open Days.
To book a slot here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/playtime-f...
September 9, 2025 at 12:12 PM
What work does a burler and mender do? What did your first pair of shoes look like? Why did women in textile mills learn how to lip read? We always learn so much about our collections from our community handling sessions. It's a privilege to be able to listen to the memories our collections evoke
September 8, 2025 at 5:14 PM
How do we want The Folly to feel?

It was wonderful to welcome our Friday Club back to the museum after the summer break. The group created prints of The Folly and wrote down how they want The Folly to feel as you walk though the door. How do you want your local museum to feel?
September 8, 2025 at 9:12 AM