Editor Adrian Braddy investigates the tale of Craven’s own Dick Whittington, who went to London, made his fortune and became Lord Mayor of the city.

Everyone knows the story of Dick Whittington, the pauper who travelled to London to seek his fortune and became Lord Mayor of London.

It is generally assumed the fairytale and pantomime character is based on a real person, Richard Whittington, who was Lord Mayor between 1397 and 1420.

Richard Whittington’s upbringing was far from poor, as his father was a wealthy merchant and philanthropist. Over time, the story developed and became somewhat romanticised and so “The Legend of Dick Whittington and His Cat” was born.

A story of that name was first recorded in 1605. It was adapted as a play that same year, “The History of Richard Whittington, of his Lowe Byrth, his Great Fortune”.

Just six years later, fiction became fact as, in true fairytale-style, a one-time pauper from Yorkshire made his fortune after travelling to the capital and worked his way up to become Lord Mayor of London.

William Craven was born into a farming family at Appletreewick around 1548 – the exact date is unknown. He was the second son of William Craven and Beatrix.

Aged 13 or 14, he was sent to London by the common carrier. According to some accounts, he hitched a lift on a succession of carts as he made his way south. The Book of Days describes it as follows: “In the latter half of the sixteenth century, a poor lad, named Craven, trudged his weary way from Yorkshire to London, with the laudable design of seeking his fortune.

“Assisting to drive a long string of pack-horses, he found protection and companionship on the road; and when the carrier was delivering a pack of Yorkshire cloth to a draper in Watling Street, he recommended the boy to the service of the citizen.”

That citizen was Robert Hulson, and he was to play a key role in Craven’s rise to greatness.

After a short while, Craven entered into an apprenticeship with Hulson and quickly made a success of his new life in silks.

Having been admitted to the freedom of the Merchant Taylors’ Company on November 4, 1569, Craven apparently entered into business with Hulson, and records of an arbitrated settlement in 1583 suggest they later fell out, although the reason is unknown.

Despite the dispute, business was good for the one-time farmer’s son. In 1588, Craven took a lease of a mansion house in Watling Street, where he was to carry on trading until his death.

On April 2, 1600, he was elected alderman for the Bishopgate ward – the first step on the road to the top job in the city. On February 14, 1601, he was selected as sheriff of London, before being named alderman of the Cordwainer ward on May 15, 1602. He was knighted at Whitehall on July 26, 1603.

Finally, in 1610, the Appletreewick lad fulfilled his Dick Whittingtonesque destiny and became Lord Mayor of London.

The occasion was marked with a revival of the famous Lord Mayor’s Show, which had not been held for some years.

It is fair to say cash was not a problem for Craven by this stage. While mayor, his name appeared in documents in connection with loans to the king.

But Craven never forgot his roots and made a series of generous donations to Yorkshire causes.

As The Book of Days put it: “The accession of wealth and honour did not cause him to forget his native Wharfdale (sic).”

Of course, when he occasionally returned to the Dales, he no longer needed to hitch a lift on the back of a cart, travelling instead in his own carriage.

Despite not receiving much of an education himself, he was a great believer in the advancement of schooling. As well as funding a number of university projects further afield, he founded the grammar school in Burnsall and the building has been in use as a school ever since.

An inscription above the school door reads: “Craven Alderman of London founder of this Schoole Anno Domini 1601”.

Craven also generously handed over money for repairs to all the bridges in the parish of Burnsall and for the construction of a proper “causeway” between Appletreewick and Burnsall.

The Book of Days adds that he also “beautified and repaired the church of Burnsall, in which he had sat when a poor boy”.

A poem was later inscribed on one of the church walls as follows: “This church of beauty, most repaired thus so bright, Two hundred pounds did coste Sir William Craven Knight.

Many other works of charitie, whereof no mention here.

True tokens of his bountie in this parish did appeare.

The place of his nativitie in Appletreewick is sceene, And late of London citie, Lord Mayor hee hath beene.

The care of this work so beautiful and faire, Was put to John Topham, clerk, by the late Lord Mayor, of that famous citie of London, so brighte, By Sir William Craven that bountiful Knighte, Borne in this parish, at Appletreewick towne.

Who regarded no coste, so the work was well done.”

Craven died on July 18, 1618, having amassed a vast fortune, which he passed to his family, who went on to achieve further greatness.