In August 2023, the North Craven Building Preservation Trust acquired the former NatWest Bank building on Settle’s Market Place, known as Dr Buck’s House for its association with one of its previous owners, Dr Charles W. Buck (1851-1932), local GP and lifelong friend of Sir Edward Elgar, whose frequent visits to Settle for around two decades from 1882 are commemorated by a plaque on the building.
The first known record of this Grade II listed Georgian merchant house dates from 1787, when it was listed as part of a block of property owned by John Constantine, a butcher, which also included two dwelling houses on the west side, a dwelling/shop on the north side, a currier’s shop, barns, yards, two gardens and an orchard.
Dr Buck’s House is now in urgent need of repair, having stood empty for over five years. The Trust’s plans include complete renovation, using the project as a case study for low carbon conversion of listed buildings, and making it sustainable for long-term community use. We intend to create three new apartments for long-term let on the upper floors to address a need for local housing.
We plan to refurbish the ground floor as a cultural space that will provide a hub for local information. We are currently consulting on whether to install a new, free to enter, museum gallery relating to Sir Edward Elgar and the inspiration he drew from this area of the Yorkshire Dales. We hope use the space to encourage civic pride and greater engagement with the collections of the Museum of North Craven Life. As a sustainable means of saving a building of importance to the community, we also intend to develop a small museum retail and information space, encouraging visitors to explore Settle’s heritage attractions, including The Folly, our Grade I listed flagship building.
If you can help us reach our fundraising target of £350,000, please consider making a donation.
Preliminary development has been supported by:
