Giggleswick School

Although the very first of the Know Your Area walks took place in Giggleswick two years ago, that walk concentrated on the history of the central part of the village. Time prevented study of the history of second oldest element of the village's history - Giggleswick School - now approaching the 500 th anniversary of its foundation. The omission was remedied by this walk led by Warwick Brookes, a recently retired and long serving Second Master of the School. From the village centre, where the first two schools originally existed, we were shown many of the buildings of the School, starting with Ivy Fold, the attractive 17th century building acquired by the School as part of the Catteral estate and followed by a privileged view of the facade of Beck House, the most imposing 18th century house of the village.

Following a route past Brookside, the cottages in the Green area and Catteral Hall, we were able to admire the War Memorial Library and were given a necessarily brief glimpse into the Brayshaw Library which it houses. Returning to the main area of the School there followed a masterly exposition of the dated sequence of acquisition and refurbishments of each building, enlivened by anecdotes illustrating the nature of schoolboy (and schoolmaster) life over the years.

A brief visit to the Dutton Centre, converted in recent years from a lofty Victorian Gymnasium, led on upwards to Chapel Field, the Cricket Pavilion and to the unusual external architecture and imposing interior of the Chapel. Now repaired and enhanced by an effective lighting plan, the mosaics and all the interior furnishings never cease to impress even those who know the building.

The evening had been fine and at exactly the appropriate moment the sun illuminated the Creation (West) window, producing the best possible epilogue for the thirty-five members and non-members who truly enjoyed an evening to remember.

Harold Foxcroft