Settle

It just happens that I've ventured up to Ribblesdale quite a few times in the recent past. One day I decided to explore the market town of Settle in a little more detail, instead of just passing through. In the photo (below) of its market square, you can just see in the background a rock outcrop with a flagpole atop. That's Castleberg Rock, and I decided to walk up there, just for fun. It's a bit of a steep scramble but worth it for the views, and interesting to watch the rock climbers negotiating the steep crag. 

The panorama from the top is stunning, looking over the town and the neighbouring village of Giggleswick and with far reaching views. The photo (above) taken from that viewpoint, shows the Town Hall, with its numerous chimneys and huge gables, on the left and the famous 'Ye Olde Naked Man Café' just across the main street. According to some accounts, that building dates back to 1663 and was once a house - and the name maybe comes from an undertaker's business or the trade sign of a local carpenter. Other accounts date the building to the 19th century and suggest it may have been an inn. It doesn't really matter. These days it's a family run café and bakery and provided a tasty sandwich and good coffee. I shared an outside table with a couple on holiday and within minutes we'd shared a myriad of details, so that I felt like I'd found a new BFF (as my grandchildren would put it!). She was from Lancashire, he from Yorkshire and I still find it heartwarming how genuine and friendly people can be round here. 

Another notable building in Settle is The Folly, built as a house in the 1670s by a local lawyer, Richard Preston. In its time it has been a farmhouse, bakery, warehouse, furniture shop, bank and even a fish and chop shop. It has been divided up into dwellings and then reunited into one building. A Heritage Lottery Fund grant allowed it to be rescued and preserved. Now it holds the Museum of North Craven Life. 

Just as a foot note, I was intrigued by the carefully chiselled graffiti at the base of the flag pole up on Castleberg Rock - 1841! Proof that 'vandalism' has existed for a long while.