THE project, 'Capturing the Past', set up by environmental charity Friends of the Dales is a digitalised local history archive. People are welcome to visit the archive to find out about the history of the area, or to share their own memories or photographs, so they are there for always.

Here, John Cuthbert, Yorkshire Dales Community Archives, gives us an idea of what treasures there are in the archive.

 

‘ON foot round Settle’ by the Rev George H Brown was published in 1896 and is displayed alongside cuttings added by Thomas Brayshaw in ‘Capturing the Past’.

George writes: "The time-tables of the Midland Railway have spread the name of Settle far and wide. By the Settle and Carlisle’ is a formula by which many a traveller indicates his route northward from the south or southward from the north.

"Amongst the varied mural literature at many of the stations an artistic advertisement may be seen which speaks of the charm of the Settle district, of its value as a health resort, of its caves, waterfalls, mineral springs etc., and seems to hint that tourists and health-seekers might go a long way before they would find another district so well suited to their tastes and needs."

His book, plus cuttings and photos, can be found at:dalescommunityarchives.org.uk/content/catalogue_item/brayshaw-library-collection/foot-round-settle This generous contribution is one of many from local groups who have added to the ‘Capturing the Past’ project – collecting historical images, documents and words from those living in and around the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

On Foot Round Settle is part of the Brayshaw Library Collection from Giggleswick School.

Thomas Brayshaw, who lived from 1854 to 1931, was a solicitor living in Stackhouse who was also a local historian. For more than 40 years he was the recognised authority in matters of local historical interest. Mr Brayshaw was closely associated with Giggleswick School from being a pupil there to being governor over a period of 60 years.

The Brayshaw Collection includes four volumes, each of around 400 pages, entitled ‘On foot round Settle, GH Brown’.

These volumes contain printed pages taken from George’s book, published by J W Lambert in 1896 - a printing company still in Settle. Added to the archive are a large number of items of relevance – newspaper cuttings, photographs, postcards, maps, records of church events, voting papers, subscription appeals, school and education items and caving literature.

This entry in the project's on-line database is a combination of George Brown’s book and Thomas Brayshaw’s various additions.

George Brown writes about Victoria Cave, Settle: "The feeling of one who for the first time visits the cave, and stands within its wide mouth, is that of disappointment. What is it about this rough cavern which gives it its fame?

"For this is one of the few noted caves that are known in scientific circles in both continents. What is the secret of its fame? We must first of all remind ourselves that it is not for what the cave is, but for what is was, that it is famous. It has a very different appearance now from what it had when it was discovered. Let us try, in thought, the re-make the cave – to put it back to what it was when it was opened and entered 57 years ago."

George’s description is joined by a cutting, added by Thomas Brayshaw, of a Settle Cave Exploration: ‘Settle Cave Exploration. At a meeting of the committee held at Settle on the 13th December 1869, it was unanimously resolved that a thorough and systematic exploration of the caves in the neighbourhood of Settle shall be made.’ One of the cuttings in the book shows a problem facing the residents of Giggleswick and Settle which is still with us today: pollution.

In the 21st Century, we have smokeless zones, unleaded petrol, cities where diesel cars are unwelcome and councils turn off streetlights in the early hours. These measures, amongst others, give us a cleaner and clearer atmosphere. In 1927, the pollution issue in question was smoke.

The cutting reads: ‘Eclipse. 29 June, 1927. The attention of householders is drawn to the fact that Giggleswick and Settle lie immediately in the line of observation from the site chosen as an Observatory by the Astronomer Royal.

For successful observations it is of the greatest importance that as clear an atmosphere as possible should be available. It has been ascertained that a material obstruction of view is caused by smoke, especially at the time of lighting and making up fires, which passes away when the fire has burnt up. It is respectfully asked that on the morning of the eclipse householders will refrain from lighting or making up their fires so as to cause emission of smoke between the hours of 5.30am and 6.30am so that the atmosphere may be a clear as possible by the time observations are being made. T.E. Pearson, Clerk to the Council.’ Capturing the Past is the project set up by the environmental campaigning charity, Friends of the Dales, for people and groups from across the Yorkshire Dales to catalogue and digitise their own local history archives.

To view the archives or find out more about adding yours visit: www.dalescommunityarchives.org.uk'