The Museum of North Craven Life is showing three exhibitions during 2005
The text of the wall-mounted display boards for the 'Stitching the Story' and 'On the Home Front' exhibitions may be found on this website in the 'Literature' section
On the Home Front: North Craven in Wartime
This is a major new exhibition from 2 July 2005 to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, bringing together records of the amazing contribution made by local people to the war effort especially the Warships and Wings for Victory weeks. It features many different aspects of life in our area of Craven, including farming, rationing, civil defence, stories of evacuees, prisoners-of-war, entertainment and much more. Local people had an impressive record of supporting the war effort through fundraising and this is particularly demonstrated in the remarkable achievement of raising £197,000 (about £6 million in today's values) during Warships Week in 1942. As a result, Settle Rural District adopted the frigate HMS Ribble, which was commissioned into the Canadian Navy in 1944 and remained under Canadian command for the duration of the war. The story of HMS Ribble is specially highlighted in the exhibition and includes a painting and photographs of the ship and her Canadian crew, extracts from her logbook and the original brass plaque presented by the Admiralty to the people of Settle Rural District in recognition of their outstanding fundraising effort.
The exhibition was formally opened on Canada Day (1 July) in the presence of the Chairman of Craven District Council, the Mayor of Settle and a large gathering of contributors. The opening was performed by Commander John Creber of the Canadian Defence Staff in London
The exhibition incorporates a video showing scenes from Settle in wartime.
Stitching the Story: the making of the Airton Tapestry
'Stitching the Story' celebrates the achievement of a group of local people in and around the small Malhamdale village of Airton. To commemorate the 300th anniversary of the building of their Quaker Meeting House, they researched and produced a skilfully embroidered panel which portrays people and events in Airton's Quaker history together with characteristic scenes in and around the village.
The Airton Tapestry, completed in 2004, was directly inspired by the Kendal
Quaker Tapestry. For details of this, please visit the website of the 'Quaker
Tapestry Exhibition Centre at Kendal' at http://www.quaker-tapestry.co.uk.
Art Connections
In association with the North Yorkshire Open Studios scheme in May and June, The Folly hosted a selling exhibition of work by a range of professional artists and makers from across the county. Further information can be obtained from the sponsor, Art Connections, at www.art-connections.org.uk
Temporary Exhibitions for other years may be found by clicking on the relevant links below:
