FUNDING has finally been found to enable Settle's Museum of North Craven Life to relocate to The Folly.

For some years the North Craven Buildings Preservation Trust has been trying to raise enough money to move the museum into the grade one listed building in Settle.

Now Yorkshire Forward, the Yorkshire and Humber regional development agency, has awarded a grant of £200,000, making possible the creation of the museum and visitor centre in the noted 17th century house.

The trust has been campaigning for 20 years to find a modern use for The Folly to make it accessible to both the people of Settle and the estimated 40,000 visitors who come to the North Craven market town each year.

The Folly was built in around 1675 by Richard Preston, a wealthy tanner and landowner, and was originally called Tanner House.

It passed into the ownership of the Dawsons, of Langcliffe Hall, when they bought it from one of Mr Preston's daughters, and was added to at different times over the centuries. The house was left empty for many years in the 18th century, and historians believe it was probably then that it acquired the name "Folly".

It has had many uses over the years, and has been divided up into shops and flats, tea rooms and a lodging house at various times.

The building was restored by Philip Dawson in the 1950s, and was later used as a bank and a doctors' surgery. Today it still boasts impressive inglenook fireplaces and other features, although many of the original fittings were destroyed by a fire.

With a mixture of funding, the preservation trust managed to buy the half of the building that will be transformed into the museum plus a visitor/cultural centre.

After the purchase, in the latter half of the '90s, the trust had to find enough money to make the vision a reality.

Work on The Folly is expected to begin in May this year and will be completed in the late summer when there will be limited public opening times.

Total refurbishment will be completed in time for the 2001/2002 tourist season.

Coun Beth Graham, chairman of the North Craven Buildings Preservation Trust, said: "We are delighted that Yorkshire Forward has approved this grant. This completes our funding package for The Folly project and will enable us to go ahead with the restoration work.

"It seems to have taken a long time, but the funding applications are very complicated and the trust has had to raise over £500,000."

The Museum of North Craven Life started out in Victoria Street then moved to its current premises in Chapel Street.

In recent years it has only opened on occasional days as the fundraising effort for The Folly project was under way.

It contains many interesting artefacts relating to life in the area, including details of the archaeological works in Victoria Cave which took place in the 19th century. They revealed evidence of Stone Age occupation of the caves above Settle.

The existing premises in Chapel Street will be refurbished to provide facilities for coach parties prior to touring The Folly.

These premises will house an exhibition of buildings in Settle, an historical audio-visual presentation of life in the area and a souvenir shop.

Andrew Wallhead, area development manager for Yorkshire Forward, said: "Yorkshire Forward is committed to the support of this type of project.

"In addition to bringing an historical building back into productive use, it will make the building accessible to the general public and encourage tourism in the town whilst helping to create new employment opportunities."

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