'Settle chains' to head back to North Craven after almost 50 years

Councillors at an extraordinary meeting of Craven District Council in Skipton on Tuesday evening agreed to gift the civic chains worn by the council chair- the 'first citizen of Craven' - to Craven Museum in Skipton and the vice chair's chains - until 50 years ago the property of Settle Rural District Council - to The Museum of North Craven Life at Settle Folly. The decision is subject to the new North Yorkshire Council, which becomes the county's new single authority on April 1, deciding not to 'recall the regalia' for itself.

Following an interjection from Settle Town Council members agreed that the chains destined for The Folly - following the demise of Craven District Council at the end of March - should be made available to the town council for the use of its mayor at civic functions.

The 'Settle chains' so called because they were originally the property of Settle Rural District Council until it fell victim to the last local government reorganisation in 1976, should however also be made available to Bentham and Ingleton councils - should they want them, and with the agreement of The Folly.

A similar offer was probably not necessary to Skipton Town Council as its mayoral chains were 'a lot better' than the Craven District Council chains, said council leader, Richard Foster at the meeting.

Vice chair Chris Rose, standing in for the chair, Simon Myers who as a trustee of the North Craven Building Preservation Trust, that owns The Folly, left the meeting for the debate, said she had been asked to read a message from Settle Town Council.

It said following a full meeting of Settle Town Council the night before, its members had welcomed the return of the chains to Settle and that hoped that the town mayor 'may eventually be able to borrow them for civic occasions'.

Cllr Rose joked she was aware the chains were referred to as the 'Settle chains' and had been warned to be careful if she went to Settle with them ' in case

Cllr Robert Heseltine (Ind, Skipton South) said he remembered the first Craven District Council debate he had attended in1976 when residents of Settle had complained about the RDC chains not being returned and that 'over the years, they had never let it go'.

He said: "I would have thought that Settle Town Council have no more of a claim over the RDC chains in that part of Craven than any of the other parish councils or parish meetings in that area," he said, adding it was an acceptable for the town council to be able to make use of the chains on special occasions.

Cllr David Ireton (Con, Ingleton and Clapham) said if Settle was to be offered use of the regalia, then Bentham and Ingleton parish councils should also be included, as both were part of the old Settle Rural District area - and possibly also Long Preston.

Cllr David Staveley (Con, Settle and Ribblesbanks) said the best place for the chains were in the two museums where they could be put on display and it was not right that they become part of a 'war fought over by local councils'.

He said his grandfather, James Staveley, had been a member of Craven District Council and its predecessor and he was well aware of the debate over the 'Settle chains'.

"Any one of the councils in the Settle rural footprint would be entitled to lay claim to use of the chains, but realistically, for the chains to find their way into the museums is a fitting epitaph for the next phase of local government in Craven and the sad demise of Craven District Council."

Cllr Rose commented: "It was made clear to me if I was passing through Settle with the Settle chain in my possession, it was something to be wary of."

Council leader, Cllr Richard Foster said it was fair that any of the councils in the former Settle rural district should be able to consult with The Folly for the use of the chain.

He added: "Skipton Town Council already has a far better set of chains than Craven has.We can try and get Skipton's gold chains, but I doubt we will get them."