The way ahead for the North Craven Heritage Trust

In the beginning the Civic Society was formed to safeguard Settle and the surrounding area from losing their historical inheritance and from being developed in an unsympathetic way. It was also intended that the society should inform and interest its members and the public at large in appreciating and taking part in the work involved. Subsequently the North Craven Heritage Trust has taken over the mantle of informing and, particularly with the publication of this Journal, of interesting the public in its local inheritance. The Building Preservation Trust has been active in the field of dealing practically with the problems of preservation of important buildings and of owning, housing and administering the collections in the Museum.

So that the NCHT can retain its links with the running of the museum, one of its committee members is invited to attend meetings of the museum management committee of the B.P.T.

The aims of the NCHT, set out concisely in our Constitution which was formally approved by the Charity Commissioners during 1992, are:

i. to encourage high standards of planning and architecture

ii. to stimulate public interest in and care for the beauty, history and character of the area

iii. to encourage the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest.

To pursue these aims, the activities of the North Craven Heritage Trust fall into six main fields:

Informing our members and friends, by means of Public Lectures. In the past these have been in large part an attempt to raise funds, in order to support other activities of the Trust. We now see lectures more as a prime purpose of the North Craven Heritage Trust and a membership benefit. Financial support of conservation projects carried out by other people, in particular grants provided to Churches in the neighbourhood through the North Craven Heritage Trust Historic Churches Fund which is supported by Membership fees. Organisation of walks on numerous weekends throughout the year, both for the social enjoyment they give to members and for the information to be gleaned from the wide and varied expertise of their leaders. Annually around Christmas, arranging an information dinner and gathering, where members may meet and enjoy good company, food and entertainment.

Irregularly through the year, choral concerts are arranged in various parts of the Trust's domain, frequently in buildings of particular interest or beauty.

Scrutiny of planning intentions, to ensure that developments are in keeping with their surroundings and are as far as possible in the widest interest of the community. Any suggestions of fresh fields of interest to members would be most welcome, provided that they come within the Trust's stated aims, as would ideas for lectures, lecturers and exhibitions.

N.B. We have just heard from the Building Preservation Trust that it has bought Just Kids—No. 4 Chapel Street. They will describe their plans for the property as soon as they can, but unfortunately too late for publication in this issue of the Journal.

Arthur Lupton.