Settle is an attractive small market town in Ribblesdale, in the south of the Yorkshire Dales. It was originally a local rural centre, served by packhorse trails and drovers' roads but started to grow in the 17th century when a turnpike road was constructed to benefit the local textile trade and connect the area with the more industrialised towns in Lancashire and Yorkshire. The coming of the railway opened up the possibilities still further and the town became a centre for cotton spinning. Nowadays, tourism is the main focus, as the town is quite near the famous Yorkshire Three Peaks and attracts walkers.
It's an interesting place to rootle around, with old buildings and narrow streets, some still cobbled. It fascinates me how the rooflines go up and down, buildings obviously shoe-horned in at various points of its history.
My friend wanted to get a few things in Booths supermarket (a rather superior store), so I waited in the car, enjoying the scenery around. The newish flats opposite the car park looked very attractive (I now have a vested interest in apartment buildings!). They are part of the McCarthy and Stone chain... rather expensive. There's a two bed apartment for sale there at the moment for over £300,000, with an eye-watering service charge of over £5000 a year plus ground rent plus a car parking charge! (You can, however, watch cricket from the roof terrace, as it's next to the local cricket ground.)
You had a fine day for your visit to this pretty town.
ReplyDeleteRipon has a "Booths", too, and it is my sister and my go-to place for everything we don't get (or want) from Aldi, and less than a five minute walk from "our" cottage.
Shoehorned in, what a great expression! I liked the shot with the little alley behind a round building, and what might be a cat walking by. Yikes on apartment costs!
ReplyDeleteIt is a pretty little market town and I notice it has a railway station as well.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a nice little town.
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