Settle Folly Hosts Walter Morrison Exhibition

The final exhibition of the Walter Morrison Festival opens at The Folly in Settle on the 8th October.

The museum will host an exhibition celebrating the life and works of the man whose philanthropy and devotion for the Yorkshire Dales landscape is still evident today, a century since his death.

This new exhibition, which runs until December 23, brings together the five exhibitions which have taken place since the spring at Skipton Library, Giggleswick School Chapel, Kirkby Malham Church, Kirkby Malham Parish Hall and Malham Chapel.

The displays will show how Morrison, who lived at Malham Tarn House, helped shape the western Dales by building or restoring schools, churches, barns, inns and housing for estate and factory workers.

The exhibition will also explain how he campaigned for education and universal voting rights and paid for the beautiful chapel at Giggleswick School where he was a governor for almost 60 years. Twice MP for Skipton, the exhibition explores Morrison’s political views too and the part he played in honouring local people killed in World War One.

Caitlin Greenwood, The Folly’s Heritage Development Officer, who’s coordinating the festival, said: “After such a long period of uncertainty, it's absolutely brilliant to be welcoming people back into The Folly with such a fantastic exhibition. “Walter Morrison played such an important role in the history of this area and we're so excited to share this part of our history with our visitors."

The exhibition at The Folly is the culmination of a festival which has also included talks, a schools programme and new walking and cycling routes all celebrating the life of Walter Morrison, known as the Grand Old Man of Craven.

The festival has been led by The Folly and involves organisations including Giggleswick School, Malhamdale Local History Group, Skipton Library (North Yorkshire Libraries Service), Kirkby Malham Church and Kirkby Malham Parish Hall. It is funded by Arts Council England, the Coulthust Trust and the Craven Trust.

The Folly is open Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-4pm. Admission to the exhibition is free.

For more information about the exhibition and the talks still to come, visit: https://thefolly.org.uk/walter-morrison-festival/