Museum of North Craven Life

Local museum in the Grade I listed Folly in Settle about the landscape and people of North Craven; closed for building repairs until 2027.

Temporarily closedFree admission Partially accessible Café

Website Directions

Temporarily closed (expected until 2027). The museum is closed for building repairs, including reroofing and work on first-floor joists. The Folly Coffee House is open as usual.

About the museum

The Museum of North Craven Life is housed in The Folly, a Grade I listed 17th-century gentleman's house in Settle. Over the centuries the building was also a lawyer's office, a farm, a lodging house, a furniture warehouse, a doctor's surgery, a holiday let and a fish and chip shop.

The museum was founded in 1976 by the Settle and District Civic Society, which was then chaired by the author and playwright Alan Bennett, to preserve the objects, images and memories of an area that was changing quickly. Its work is linked to the North Craven Building Preservation Trust and the North Craven Heritage Trust. The collection of objects, archives, maps and photographs follows North Craven and its people from the earliest times, beginning with the landscape and its influence on daily life. Recent highlights include the Horner Photographic Studio Archive.

In 2026 the museum closed for essential building work, including reroofing. Engineers then found unstable joists at first-floor level, and the museum will now stay closed until 2027. The Folly Coffee House in the same building remains open.

Highlights

Local history of North Craven, from the landscape to everyday life
The Horner Photographic Studio Archive
A Grade I listed 17th-century house
The Folly Coffee House in the same building

Permanent exhibition

Life in North Craven – Objects, archives, maps and photographs on the landscape, history and people of North Craven. The museum is closed until 2027.

Founded: 1976
Operated by: North Craven Building Preservation Trust

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free and donations are welcome.

Accessibility

Partially wheelchair accessible
Elevator: no information
Accessible restroom
Accessible parking: no information
Service dogs welcome
Tactile models & exhibits: no information
Sign language tours: no information
Easy-to-read materials: no information
Audio description: no information

The museum entrance has three uneven steps and the coffee house entrance has four uneven steps with a handrail. Wheelchair users can use the rear door by the path beside the driveway; staff open the doors on request. Wheelchair users can reach the first floor but not the second floor. Toilets on the ground floor are gender-neutral and include disabled toilets and baby change. Guide dogs are welcome throughout; other dogs are welcome only on the museum ground floor and in the coffee house.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

Family tours & workshops
Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
Baby changing facilities

A trail with games and activities is available, and family drop-in sessions run during school holidays when the museum is open.

Getting there & parking

By public transit

Settle railway station · 5-min walk

Settle railway station is about a five-minute walk away.

By car

Paid parking · 2-min walk · 125 m to the entrance

There is no parking at The Folly. Pay-and-display car parks nearby are Greenfoot (BD24 9RB, about 2 minutes' walk, 125 m), Ashfield (BD24 9AA, about 5 minutes) and Whitefriars (BD24 9JD, about 5 minutes).

Get directions

Amenities & dining

Café
Museum shop

The Folly Coffee House offers vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options; other dietary needs can be met with 24 hours' notice. There is a children's menu, free heating of baby food and formula, and the café welcomes breastfeeding.